Ukraine was one of the most promising markets for budget carriers like Ryanair and Wizz Air before the full-scale invasion by Russia. Amid discussions about the end of the war, companies are preparing to return to Ukrainian airspace, as reported by UNIAN. This information comes from Kontrakty.UA.
The publication Bloomberg notes that Wizz's CEO, József Váradi, expects the airline to capture 40% of the air travel market in Ukraine.
Ryanair, Wizz, and the smaller regional competitor Air Baltic promise to invest in the country’s recovery and restore their bases. They are capable of acting swiftly, while "Ukraine International Airlines" will need time to prepare its fleet for operations. In 2019, Wizz held 13% of the Ukrainian market, Ryanair 7%, and Ukraine International nearly 40%.
According to Goodbody analyst Dudley Shenley, within six months, Wizz and Ryanair could add around 1 million seats to their annual capacity in Ukraine compared to pre-pandemic levels.
One obstacle for the carriers is the shortage of available aircraft. Wizz has temporarily suspended operations of part of its A320 fleet due to issues with Pratt & Whitney engines, while Ryanair has lowered its growth targets due to delays in deliveries from Boeing.
"Access to aviation capacity is limited for both companies, but we expect both airlines to view the opportunity to strengthen their positions in Ukraine as too important to lose," noted Barclays analyst Andrew Lobbenberg.
Despite the fact that Ukrainian airports have suffered losses due to the war, they have generally not halted certification and training processes. They also maintain contact with airlines.
According to Váradi, Wizz aims to base 40 new aircraft in Ukraine and introduce 150 routes over the next three years, after which the annual capacity will increase to 15 million seats, matching levels in Poland and Romania.
Dublin-based Ryanair plans to begin selling tickets to Ukraine as soon as the airspace is opened and to start flights within six weeks, said CEO Michael O'Leary.
Air Baltic also plans to return to Ukraine shortly after flights resume. Initially, they will reallocate capacity from other routes, stated CEO Martin Gauss.
After the airspace closure in early 2022, Ukraine needs to restore air traffic control. According to UkSATSE, the company providing these services, employees are undergoing retraining courses in preparation for resuming operations.
Kyiv-Boryspil Airport continues to pay its employees and regularly services its equipment. The company expects that after hostilities cease, there will be increased demand for commercial and cargo flights to Ukraine.
Return of Passenger Air Travel to Ukraine - Latest News
CEO Michael O'Leary stated that Europe's largest low-cost airline is developing a plan to resume flights to Ukraine. The airline's planes will begin flying to Ukrainian cities again within two months after the official end of the war.
In addition, the company anticipates that it will be able to serve up to 5 million passengers annually within a year or two after resuming flights.
Later, Wizz Air CEO József Váradi stated that the airline is also preparing to return to Ukraine.