The head of the Committee on State Governance, Local Self-Government, Regional Development, and Urban Planning, Olena Shulyak, reported this. Writes biz.nv.ua. This information is also provided by Kontakty.UA.
According to her, this will create an alternative to the international airports of Boryspil and Zhulyany, as well as offer favorable conditions for low-cost airlines due to its discounted rates and fees, as well as reduced flight times.
One of the main reasons the airport was not utilized before the war was the unsatisfactory condition of the runway, Shulyak explained.
She noted that the local government authorities of the Zhytomyr region have a detailed plan for the repair and modernization of the airport.
At the same time, investments for its launch are estimated at around $20 million.
According to Shulyak, the primary advantage of Zhytomyr Airport in the context of passenger transport is its proximity to the capital of Ukraine, the city of Kyiv.
“Local authorities are convinced that budget airlines will choose Zhytomyr Airport due to its discounted rates and fees, as well as reduced flight times,” she stated. “Free passenger transportation from the Zhytomyrska metro station could be a significant advantage in the competition for consumers.”
The international airport in Zhytomyr could also potentially be considered as one of the centers for cargo transportation, Shulyak added.
As reported, in February, the management of Boryspil International Airport discussed with representatives of the low-cost airline Wizz Air the operational launch of air services after the reopening of airspace.
Even before the start of these negotiations, Wizz Air's CEO József Váradi stated the airline's readiness to resume flights to Kyiv within six weeks. Overall, the low-cost carrier plans to transport 5 million passengers during its first year of operation in the Ukrainian market.
The competing low-cost airline Ryanair also announced plans to resume flights to Ukraine.
In February, Boryspil Airport's CEO Oleksiy Dubrevskyi stated that Ukraine continues to work on building a security architecture that will enable the restoration of air travel. This work has already been completed by 60−70%.
In November 2024, the Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine and Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksiy Kuleba stated that the aviation service of Ukraine is 95% ready to open air connections in the country; however, the critical factor remains the safety of passengers.
The sky over Ukraine has been closed since February 24, 2022.