Ryanair Pledges $3 Billion Investment in Ukraine’s Aviation Sector After War

Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline, has announced its plans to invest heavily in Ukraine’s aviation sector once the war with Russia is over and the airspace is reopened for commercial flights. The Irish low-cost carrier said it will base up to 30 new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft worth over $3 billion at the three main Ukrainian airports in Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa, and operate 600 weekly flights to over 20 EU capitals and domestic destinations.

Ryanair Group CEO Michael O’Leary said that the airline was Ukraine’s second-largest airline before the Russian invasion in February 2022, and that it will return with low fares and reliable service as soon as the skies over Ukraine are safe again. He also said that Ryanair will create thousands of new jobs in aviation for Ukrainian citizens and support the recovery of the country’s economy.

The announcement was made during a visit by O’Leary and other senior executives of Ryanair to Kyiv, where they met with Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine and Minister for Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov, and toured the Boryspil International Airport. Kubrakov thanked Ryanair for its loyalty and leadership in the recovery of Ukraine’s aviation industry, and said that the government is working on solutions and investment plans to enable flights to resume as soon as possible.

Ryanair launched its first flights to Ukraine in 2018, and operated from five airports in Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Kharkiv and Kherson before the war. It currently employs hundreds of Ukrainian pilots, cabin crew and IT professionals. It is the first new mainline airline in the US in nearly 15 years, and operates flights to more than 20 destinations across 25 states.