AirBaltic prepares for Ukraine return
March 16, 2025
Latvian airline airBaltic has said it will be ready to resume scheduled flights to Ukraine as soon as the country’s airspace reopens.
In preparation for this, an airBaltic delegation visited Kyiv this week to engage with key stakeholders and assess the necessary steps to restore air connectivity.
As part of its commitment, airBaltic aims to reintegrate Kyiv and Lviv into its route network as soon as conditions allow. Additionally, the airline plans to expand its services beyond Riga by linking Kyiv with the other Baltic capitals—Tallinn and Vilnius—strengthening regional connectivity.
During their visit, the delegation held discussions with representatives from the Ministry of Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, Boryspil International Airport, and the Latvian Embassy in Ukraine.
Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic, reaffirmed the airline’s commitment to the country, which was illegally invaded in 2014 and again in 2022 by Russia: “We have consistently expressed our plans for airBaltic to be the first airline back in Ukraine when it is safe, and we stand by this commitment.
“The safety of our employees, passengers, and operations will always be our highest priority, and following our second in-person visit to Kyiv, preparations for our return are well underway. We look forward to restoring the vital air links and contributing to Ukraine’s aviation recovery.”
Serhiy Derkach, Deputy Minister of Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, welcomed the initiative: “We appreciate airBaltic’s ongoing cooperation and commitment to restoring connectivity with Ukraine when conditions allow, and we welcome its readiness to expand operations and reconnect Ukraine with Europe as we rebuild our aviation sector.”
Oleksiy Dubrevskyy, CEO of Boryspil International Airport, emphasised the importance of airBaltic’s visit: “We are delighted to welcome our esteemed partners back to Boryspil International Airport. This visit by airBaltic marks a significant step toward restoring air connectivity between Ukraine and the world after war.
“The growing interest from international carriers in returning to the Ukrainian market reaffirms the aviation industry’s readiness to resume operations as soon as the security situation allows for the reopening of our airspace.
“We sincerely appreciate airBaltic’s trust and support. Our team continues to collaborate closely with airlines on technical and operational matters to ensure the swift and efficient resumption of flights after the end of the war.”
The airline has also introduced a Ukrainian-language option on its official website to better serve Ukrainian customers.
