The issue of opening an airport in Ukraine is currently on hold. Ukraine's most remote airport, Uzhhorod, has been transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, with plans to create a European hub for civil protection air support.
Viktor Mykyta, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office for Regional Policy, said this in an interview with LB.ua. He explained that the airport in Uzhhorod could provide irregular charter public flights.
"The policy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs allows it. The SES is a civil aviation, not a military one. There can't be military aircraft there, the logistics are unsuccessful in general," he said.
However, the distance should be taken into account: there is 800 km from the Ukrainian capital to the Transcarpathian Region. Sometimes it is more convenient to get to Poland by train and fly from there than to drive to Uzhhorod.
"We need to build a road and improve the railway connection," he explained.
Reopening the airport
- The possibility of reopening at least one airport, despite the full-scale war, was first discussed in September 2022. In the summer of 2023, it was said that Lviv airport might be reopened, but for humanitarian flights. The EU was supposed to provide this humanitarian corridor.
- In March 2024, Ukraine officially started negotiations on the resumption of air travel with European and Ukrainian companies.