The airline company Ryanair low cost account invest $3 billion in the reconstruction of air traffic in Ukraine – once the war with Russia is over.
Announced from Kiev by Ryanair Holdings CEO Michel O’Leary on July 20, 2023, the Irish budget flight specialist’s significant investment plans (over $3 billion) aim to “quickly rebuild Ukraine’s aviation industry once the war ends and EASA declares flights to and from Ukraine safe again”. Ryanair also met with the leaders of the main Ukrainian airports, Kyiv-Boryspil, Lviv-Danylo Halytskyi And Odessa (it was present in the first two before the war, as well as in Kharkiv and Kherson).
During this visit, Ryanair management and Kyiv Airport “examined the condition of the airport terminals, baggage claim, check-in and passenger boarding areas, checkpoints, aprons”, and were able to observe “the excellent condition of the airport infrastructure and its operational capacity to resume flights as soon as security permits”. Ryanair praised the employees of Boryspil Airport “for their efforts to save and maintain the operability of the airport infrastructure during the war”.
The low cost has pledged to return with low cost flights from/to Ukraine “ within 8 weeks following the reopening of Ukrainian airspace”. Ryanair’s Boeing 737s “will provide 600 weekly flights departing from the main airports of kyiv, Lviv and Odessa, connecting these cities to more than 20 capitals of the European Union”. Daily domestic flights between the three cities are also planned “as soon as these airports are able to accommodate them”.
Michael O’Leary said in a statement: Ryanair remains a committed partner in rebuilding and investing in Ukrainian aviation. Today we have seen that in the most difficult conditions caused by the war, the team at Boryspil airport demonstrates professionalism and is fully ready to resume flights as soon as possible. “.
In detail, Ryanair plans to offer in the first 12 months post-war, ” more than 5 million seats to, from and within Ukraine, reaching more than 10 million seats over a period of 5 years”. She will base up to 30 new Boeing 737 MAX worth more than $3 billion at Ukraine’s three main airports, “which will provide Ukrainian citizens and visitors with access to the lowest airfares in Europe, as Ukraine rebuilds its economy in a post-invasion environment.”
Michael O’Leary added: Ryanair was Ukraine’s second largest airline before the illegal Russian invasion in February 2022. Once the Ukrainian skies are reopened to commercial aviation, Ryanair will return to Ukraine to connect major Ukrainian airports with more than 20 European Union capitals. We work closely with the Ukrainian government to rebuild Ukraine’s aviation, industry and economy “.
Ryanair finally recalls that it currently employs “hundreds of pilots, cabin crew and IT professionals ukrainians, and we plan to create thousands of new aviation jobs for Ukrainian citizens when Ukraine’s skies are reopened.” Ukraine is a country of 40 million people, many of whom have been dispersed across Europe over the past year. “We look forward to being able to reunite these families using Ryanair’s low cost services to major Ukrainian airports as soon as it is safe to do so. Ryanair’s low-cost services will be essential to the reconstruction and recovery of the Ukrainian economy”.
Oleksandr Kubrakov, Minister of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine said: “ Maintaining the operability of air infrastructure and the professional skills of personnel remains vital for us in the conditions of war. In the meantime, the resumption of flights will be possible as soon as security conditions allow. However, we are already working on solutions and investment plans to allow planes to take off quickly. I am grateful to Ryanair, a loyal partner of Ukraine, for its leading role in the recovery of our aviation industry and for its specific proposals and decisions “.
Boryspil Express made its first flight this year. @Ryanair management became its passengers.
Welcome aboard!#UkrainianRailways #Transportation #Ukraine #Boryspol #Ryanair pic.twitter.com/qv85kq6prm
— Ukrainian railways || Укрзалізниця (@Ukrzaliznytsia) July 20, 2023
