Ryanair prepares to resume flights to Ukraine but under one condition
Photo: Michael O’Leary (Getty Images)
Europe's biggest airline, Ryanair, is developing plans to resume flights to Ukraine amid growing hopes that Donald Trump will bring an end to the war with Russia, Michael O’Leary, the airline’s chief executive, says in an interview with The Telegraph.
O'Leary stated that Ryanair is devising a plan to start flights within four to six weeks after the war ends. The planning comes as the US President pushes for a ceasefire.
"I would very much hope it’s this year. I think one of the things that Trump can deliver, hopefully, would be an earlier resolution of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine," O’Leary said.
Immediately after assuming office, Trump threatened to impose new tariffs and sanctions against Russia if Vladimir Putin does not end this "ridiculous war" in Ukraine. He wrote on Truth Social: "We can do it the easy way, or the hard way – and the easy way is always better."
Key obstacle
Ryanair's plans include opening around 24 routes serving Kyiv and Lviv. Capacity would be ensured by redirecting aircraft based at airports such as Stansted and Paris Orly to serve these cities.
O'Leary said that meeting the requirements of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) would require an official cessation of hostilities.
"Ultimately it will need some kind of ceasefire because EASA won’t allow anything to fly over there unless they have some kind of reasonable certainty that there won’t be missiles flying," Ryanair chief executive explained.
Ryanair's plans
Ryanair aims to return to Ukraine after being the second-largest carrier in the country before the February 2022 invasion.
"We have an amazing reputation in former communist countries. They all love Ryanair. They see us a bit like McDonald’s. We are the cool, kind of American brand," O'Leary noted.
Ryanair chief executive reported that Kyiv and Lviv are "ready to go," with infrastructure like baggage carousels being operated weekly to ensure functionality.
According to O'Leary, restoring train service to Odesa may take longer due to the extent of the damage, while some transport hubs in the east and south were "bombed to hell" and essentially destroyed.
This includes the airport in Kherson, where Ryanair previously operated flights. The city suffered heavily after being captured by Russian forces in 2022 and later liberated by Ukrainian troops.
Expectations for Ryanair in Ukraine
Last year, O'Leary visited Ukraine, toured Kyiv airport, met with the country's Minister of Infrastructure, and outlined what he called a "radical air transport recovery plan."
Ryanair chief executive noted that the 10-hour train journey from Poland was "painful" and that trains are not a practical way for millions of Ukrainians across Europe to return home.
"There was a lot of excitement about flights coming back. There will be enormous traffic flows even in the very early days from reuniting friends and family and huge amounts of inbound investment in rebuilding the economy. We will be front and center in that," O'Leary stated.
In November 2024, Crispin Allison, senior partner at Marsh McLennan, an insurance brokerage, said that the airport in Lviv could reopen as early as January 2025. According to him, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insisted that Kyiv Boryspil Airport should reopen first. However, neither Lviv nor Kyiv airports reopened in January.
