(Alliance News) - Europe's largest low-cost airline Ryanair Holdings PLC plans to invest over USD3 billion to rebuild Ukraine's aviation industry once the war ends and the EU Aviation Safety Agency declares flying into and out of Ukraine is safe again.
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary also promised a swift restart of flights in Ukraine after the end of the war, following a trip to Kiev on Thursday.
Ryanair will resume flights eight weeks after airspace reopens, the company said after meeting Ukrainian government representatives.
Up to 30 aircraft will be stationed at Kiev, Lviv and Odessa airports and 600 flights a week will be offered to 20 EU capitals, O'Leary said during the visit.
Within five years, the offer is to be doubled from initially five to 10 million seats per year.
Ryanair said it was the second-largest airline in Ukraine before the invasion.
The airports in Kharkiv and Kherson are also to be returned to as soon as the infrastructure has been restored, O'Leary said in a statement.
Ryanair managers met Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine and Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov, a company statement said.
They also discussed Ukraine's main airports, Kiev, Lviv and Odessa in Boryspil International Airport, invited by Oleksiy Dubrevskyy, who heads Boryspil International Airport.
The Ryanair senior management examined the condition of airport terminals, baggage claim and passenger check-in and boarding gate areas, control points, and aprons during the visit.
Ryanair also plans to open daily domestic flights between Kiev, Lviv, and Odessa, as soon as the airports are operational.
Ryanair will base up to 30 new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft worth over USD3 billion at the three main Ukrainian airports, "giving Ukrainian citizens and visitors access to Europe's lowest air fares, as Ukraine rebuilds its economy in a post invasion environment," the statement said.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly 17 months ago. "Ryanair was Ukraine's second largest airline before the unlawful Russian invasion in February 2022," O'Leary said.
"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, and we are working closely with the Ukrainian government to rebuild Ukraine's aviation, industry and its economy."
"The fastest way to rebuild and restore the Ukrainian economy will be with low fare air travel," he said.
source: dpa
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