Ukrainian airports will need €200 million to rebuild from the destruction caused by the war, besides additional yearly operational costs. To address the challenges faced by airports in Ukraine and discuss aid options, European airports’ trade body ACI Europe brought together representatives of its Ukrainian members in Brussels on 14 September, as well as other relevant stakeholders.
Having lost all commercial air traffic since February 2022 and suffered significant war-inflicted destruction, Ukrainian airports are currently striving to recover and maintain their operational capabilities. Repairing damaged infrastructure, maintaining facilities, equipment and related certification, are crucial to ensure that Ukraine keeps its critical aviation infrastructure up and running. It is also vital that staff are retained and that they stay motivated with continuous training.
In response to airspace closures due to the Russian invasion, our top priorities include infrastructure readiness and personnel proficiency.
Sergiy Derkach, Deputy Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine
As Ukrainian airports’ financial reserves are exhausted, they now need adequate and urgent financial support, ACI Europe stressed, estimating the costs involved in rebuilding damaged airport infrastructure across Ukraine at over €200 million. Additionally, the financial needs to maintain operational readiness on a yearly basis stands at €52.8 million.
“These steps are crucial for a swift resumption of civilian flights once security allows. This restoration will have a positive impact on the national economy, accessibility, refugee return and post-war recovery efforts”, Deputy Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine, Sergiy Derkach, said at the meeting.
“Today’s meeting was an important first step to address the array of both short and longer-term challenges faced by Ukrainian airports”, added Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI Europe. “Airlines such as airBaltic, Ryanair and Wizz Air have already signalled their readiness to reconnect Ukraine with the rest of Europe as soon as safely possible. But that requires Ukrainian airports not just to rebuild but also to recover and maintain their operational capabilities in full. As the war drags on, this is no longer something they can do on their own – and it is urgent that the Ukrainian Government now uses part of the financial aid provided by the EU for that purpose.”
Jankovec promised that ACI Europe will call on its 550 members to consider offering incentives on user charges for any flight serving Ukraine, in order to support the rebuilding of essential air connectivity. “Looking at the longer-term, the role of the EU and multilateral financial institutions will also be essential in supporting the development of Ukrainian airports in terms of capacity, digitalisation and sustainability along with their effective integration into the EU’s Trans-European Transport Network“, Jankovec concluded.
