Ukraine's air service almost ready to resume flights, pending security measures

Ukraine's air service is 95% ready to restore flights, but ensuring passenger safety with robust air defense systems is crucial, said Vice Prime Minister for Reconstruction Oleksiy Kuleba in an interview with public broadcaster Suspilne.

"The security architecture requires very serious air defense measures, which are currently deployed in the country for their intended purpose. Therefore, when we have sufficient air defense for a particular airport, we can discuss this. Unfortunately, this is not feasible at the moment," Kuiba stated.

According to the official, once the decision is made, it will take approximately 45-50 days to launch flights in Lviv or Kyiv's Boryspil. However, ensuring passenger safety is critically important.

The resumption of air travel in 2025 will also depend on the situation at the front.

"Of course, we can hope. But realistically, we can only discuss this in the context of the front. Like all other issues related to our country's development, the front comes first, and then any other development follows," Kuleba said.

In March 2024, then-Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov announced that Ukraine was beginning official negotiations with the U.S. and EU to restore air travel.

According to Kubrakov, several European airlines are very interested in returning to the Ukrainian market.

In October, Ukraine presented a plan for the partial reopening of its airspace under martial law in Warsaw.

On November 18, it was reported that the cargo airline Supernova Airlines is ready to start operations from Ukraine as soon as it is permitted.