Airlines are altering schedules to limit their exposure to Ukrainian airspace, while continuing flights into and out of the country as its standoff with Russian troops massed at the border intensifies.
Ryanair has reduced the number of flights with Ukraine, according to a spokeswoman. “The safety of our passengers and crew is our number one priority and we will continue to monitor our schedules and adjust accordingly,” the Irish carrier said in an emailed statement Thursday.
Deutsche Lufthansa AG and its Swiss and Austrian units have switched some flights to Kyiv from evenings to mornings due to safety concerns to avoid having crews stay overnight in the Ukrainian capital, a spokesman said. Dutch carrier KLM also said its crews aren’t overnighting.
Air France has extended the practice of avoiding eastern Ukraine on flights to Asia and is now diverting around the entire country, according to a spokesman. The French arm of Air France-KLM is keeping up normal service on its twice-weekly rotation between Paris and Kyiv, with same-day turnarounds.
Carriers including LOT Polish Airlines and Hungary’s Wizz Air are also keeping up direct service but said they were ready to change plans if necessary.
KLM determines whether to fly over a country through a security analysis incorporating airline input with government intelligence, defense and counter-terrorism sources, it said in a statement.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency said it’s monitoring developments in coordination with the aviation industry and the European Commission, a spokeswoman said.
