Low cost airline Ryanair announced on July 20 its plans to return to the Ukrainian market within eight weeks of Ukrainian air space reopening.
Ryanair said intends to invest up to $3 billion in Ukraine after the war ends and will base up to 30 new Boeing MAX aircraft at the country’s three main airports in Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa with 75 routes from Europe to Ukraine.
The announcement came as three members of the company’s leadership visited Boryspil International Aiport outside Kyiv to meet with representatives of Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa airports. Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov was also in attendance.
Michael O’Leary, Ryanair CEO, said in Kyiv that “once the skies over Ukraine have reopened for commercial aviation, Ryanair will charge back into Ukraine linking the main Ukraine airports with over 20 EU capitals.”
“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,” he added.
According to a statement made by Boryspil airport, discussions had previously been held with Ryanair during the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London in June.
Ryanair was Ukraine’s second biggest airline before the Russian invasion in February of last year.