Number of Flights over Ukraine Reaches 60 Percent of Pre-Pandemic Level

In June, the Ukrainian State Air Traffic Services Enterprise served 21,113 flights, accounting for 59.6% of the June 2019 flights. The May level was 56.6% of the same period in 2019. This indicates smooth positive dynamics of the air traffic resumption in Ukraine.

What are the factors in flights’ rise?

1. Relaxation of quarantine restrictions in many countries around the world and start of tourist season. In particular, the borders of foreign countries opened for Ukrainians, and a number of international flights suspended due to the pandemic were resumed.
2. Restrictions on the flights in the airspace of the Republic of Belarus imposed by Ukraine and international partners. Part of the air traffic that used to pass through Belarus now passes through Ukraine.
3. Entry of new air carriers into the Ukrainian market. In particular, leading low-cost carrier of the Middle East – the Flynas company from Saudi Arabia – launched flights this year.
4. Reduction in rates for air navigation services on the route for flights in a separate part of the airspace of Ukraine over the Black Sea. On 1 June this year, new air navigation rates came into force, setting the cost of 100 km of flight at EUR 25 instead of EUR 51.1. This contributed to the revision of Ukrainian airlines’flight plans in the southern and south-eastern routes from Ukraine and partial resumption of flights in the Simferopol region of flight information.

As a reminder, in late June, the Council of EU gave its consent to signing the Common Aviation Area Agreement with Ukraine. Adoption of the document will contribute to the emergence of new foreign players in the domestic aviation market and further increase in the air traffic intensity by the end of 2021. The agreement provides for market liberalisation and removal of restrictions on flights between the airports of Ukraine and EU countries for both national and European carriers.

Natalia Tolub