European Low-Cost Carriers Plan Quick Return to the Ukrainian Aviation Market After Opening of Airspace

European budget airlines are actively preparing to resume flights to Ukraine immediately after the airspace is opened and a peace agreement is signed. It is expected that with the start of the country’s reconstruction, the return of Ukrainians from abroad, and interest in so-called “disaster tourism,” the demand for air travel will rise sharply.

This is reported by AgroReview

Strategies of Leading Low-Cost Carriers

Wizz Air, which was the largest foreign carrier in Ukraine before the full-scale invasion, plans to return 15 aircraft to the Ukrainian market in the first two years after the war ends. The company also has an ambitious goal of increasing the number of aircraft to 50 within seven years. In 2021, Wizz Air operated over 5,000 flights and was among the top three largest airlines in the country.

Ryanair has announced its readiness to resume flights to Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa within just two weeks after a peace agreement is reached. The company intends to increase its annual passenger flow to 4 million people, whereas before the war, Ryanair transported about 1.5 million passengers each year.

“European budget airlines are preparing to return to the Ukrainian market immediately after the peace agreement is signed and the airspace is opened. Airlines predict a sharp surge in demand due to the start of the country’s reconstruction, the return of Ukrainians home, and the phenomenon of ‘disaster tourism,’ where travelers visit regions that have experienced war or other catastrophic events.”

Market Potential and New Players

The peak of air travel in Ukraine occurred in 2019, when nearly 15 million passengers arrived in the country. In 2021, due to the pandemic, passenger traffic decreased to 10.8 million; however, these figures indicate a high market potential. Meanwhile, EasyJet, which previously did not operate flights to Ukraine, is also considering the possibility of opening new routes after the situation stabilizes.

The return of European low-cost carriers is expected to be an important step towards restoring mobility, the economy, and integrating Ukraine into the European aviation space.