Ryanair said today intends to invest up to $3 billion in Ukraine after the war ends and will base up to 30 new Boeing MAX aircraft at the country's three main airports in Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa.
Ryanair was Ukraine's second biggest airline before the Russian invasion in February of last year.
Having previously also served Kharkiv and Kherson airports before the invasion, Ryanair said it plans to return to those airports too, as soon as the infrastructure has been restored.
Ryanair has committed to returning to Ukraine within eight weeks of the reopening of Ukraine air space.
This will see 600 weekly flights being operated by the airline from the main airports of Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa, connecting these cities to over 20 EU capitals.
It also plans to open daily domestic flights between Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa, as soon as the airports are able to handle them.
During a visit to Ukraine today, Ryanair group chief executive Michael O'Leary said the fastest way to rebuild and restore the Ukrainian economy will be with low fare air travel.
Mr O'Leary said the airline remains committed to rebuilding and investing in Ukraine.
Ryanair held meetings with the operators of Ukraine's main airports, Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa in Boryspil International Airport today.
"We currently employ hundreds of Ukrainian pilots, cabin crew and IT professionals, and we will look to creating thousands of new jobs in aviation for Ukrainian citizens when Ukraine skies reopen," he said.
"We will invest heavily in partnership with the Ukrainian government and Ukraine's main airports as we grow to carry up to 10 million passengers a year to/from Ukraine once we are allowed to do so by the European and Ukrainian Regulatory Authorities," he added.
Michael O'Leary said he was inspired by the dedication of Boryspil Airport employees, who are motivated and comprehensively working for the post-war recovery of air traffic.
"Today we saw that in the most difficult conditions of war, the Boryspil airport team demonstrates its professionalism and is fully ready for the resumption of flights as soon as possible," he stated.
