In This Article:
Ryanair is drawing up plans for the resumption of flights to Ukraine amid rising hopes that Donald Trump could bring about an end to the war with Russia.
Michael O’Leary, the airline’s chief executive, said Ryanair was developing a blueprint that would allow flights to begin within four to six weeks of the conflict ending. Plans are being drawn up as the US president presses for a ceasefire.
Mr O’Leary said: “I would very much hope it’s this year. I think one of the things that Trump can deliver, hopefully, would be an earlier resolution of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.”
Shortly after coming to office, Mr Trump threatened to impose new tariffs and sanctions on Russia unless Vladimir Putin ended the “ridiculous war” in Ukraine. He wrote on Truth Social: “We can do it the easy way, or the hard way – and the easy way is always better.”
Ryanair’s plans envisage the opening up of around 24 routes serving Kyiv and Lviv. Capacity would be provided by redirecting jets based at airports such as Stansted and Paris Orly to serve the cities.
Mr O’Leary said a formal halt to the fighting would be required in order to satisfy the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
He said: “Ultimately it will need some kind of ceasefire because EASA won’t allow anything to fly over there unless they have some kind of reasonable certainty that there won’t be missiles flying.”
Ryanair is keen to get back into Ukraine after establishing itself as the second largest carrier in the country prior to the February 2022 invasion.
He said: “We have an amazing reputation in former communist countries. They all love Ryanair. They see us a bit like McDonald’s. We are the cool, kind of American brand.”
Mr O’Leary said Kyiv and Lviv were “ready to go”, with infrastructure such as baggage carousels having been run every week to ensure that it remains functional.
A resumption of services to Odesa may take longer due to the level of damage, while some hubs in the east and south have been “bombed to hell” and effectively destroyed, he said.
That includes the airport in Kherson, where Ryanair previously flew. The city has suffered heavy damage after being overrun early in the conflict by Russian troops before later being retaken by Ukrainian forces.
Mr O’Leary visited Ukraine last year, touring Kyiv airport, meeting with the country’s infrastructure minister and setting out what he called “a radical air transport recovery plan”.
He said the 10-hour rail journey he took from Poland had been “painful” and that the train was not a practical way for the millions of Ukrainians displaced across Europe to return home.