Iryna Kosse’s commentary on air travel in wartime

Charter flights could be the first to resume, as they require fewer regulatory approvals than scheduled services. According to a UNIAN article, Ukraine may be able to partially restore air travel before the end of the war, with Turkey emerging as the most likely initial destination.

Iryna Kosse, Lead Researcher at the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting (IER), noted that if flights to European Union countries remain unavailable, Turkey appears to be the most realistic option. Provided that security conditions allow, Lviv Airport could serve as the starting point for the gradual restoration of air services.

“Turkey is the strongest candidate because, even before the full-scale war, charter flights operated from Lviv to Turkey. To resume these flights, only approval from the Turkish aviation regulator is required. There is a good chance that such approval could be granted,” Kosse said.

She stressed that charter flights, rather than scheduled services, are the most likely first step towards restoring air connections, as they require fewer regulatory approvals and are therefore more feasible under the current circumstances.

At the same time, Kyiv is considered a less likely candidate for an early reopening because of security risks. According to Kosse, one possible option for the capital would be to resume cargo flights before passenger services.

“It may be more realistic to reopen cargo flights rather than passenger services, because cargo is less vulnerable than people,” she added.

Read more in the UNIAN article.