ACI EUROPE leaders visit Kyiv to support Ukrainian members as the war drags on
Almost two years since Russia began its full scale invasion of Ukraine, ACI EUROPE Director General Olivier Jankovec and the CEO of SEA Milan Airports and President of ACI EUROPE, Armando Brunini travelled to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian members, their government and relevant authorities.
Their visit came at a critical time for Ukraine’s airports and their teams who have spared no effort to keep their facilities in perfect condition and retaining staff, while their financial reserves dwindled all the way to full exhaustion at the beginning of 2024. This was the focus of ACI EUROPE leadership’s meetings with high level governmental representatives of Ukraine.
The main message passed on by ACI EUROPE Director General and the President during their meetings was that Ukrainian airports are strategic assets of the state and essential for maintaining and developing the economy of the country. As long as there is a war, it is crucial to maintain the operational readiness of airports through retaining of qualified personnel, and ensuring all equipment and facilities are maintained. Until now, the Ukrainian airports have been self-sufficient in this regard, but now their financial resources are exhausted. The government should now think about how to support them financially, as airports are an important part of Ukraine’s economic recovery.
This fact gains particular weight in conjunction with the reality that losing and re-establishing operational readiness will be far more costly than maintaining it – and will impact the country’s ability to recover. Airports are in scope of the EU Ukraine Plan – and they need to get their share of the €50 billion EU Ukraine Facility. At the same time, Ukraine needs strong airports and air transport system to support its economic recovery.
The visit was also an opportunity to discuss the potential reopening of Ukrainian airspace to resume air traffic. This would be crucial not only for the airports but for Ukraine as a whole to end the isolation, sending a powerful political signal. ACI EUROPE is liaising with the relevant authorities, such as EASA, to make progress in this direction, however the ultimate decision and action in this regard lays with the Ukrainian government.
Highlights from the visit to Boryspil International Airport
Related links:
- Interview with Interfax: We see no possibility of full recovery of Ukraine without functioning airports
- Boryspil International Airport’s Press Release: Airports Council International Europe (ACI EUROPE): Kyiv Boryspil Airport along with the other Ukrainian airports are the required prerequisite for the revival of Ukraine’s economy and for attracting foreign investment
- Association of Airports of Ukraine’s Press Release: Pleasant feelings from the meeting with colleagues from the Airports Council International Europe (ACI Europe). Particularly significant in the context of the current state and future recovery of airport and aviation activities in Ukraine.
- Olivier Jankovec’s LinkedIn post following the visit – LINK
