We will immediately start flights as soon as Ukraine's airspace is open - Martin Gauss

Exclusive interview with CEO of airBaltic Martin Gauss to Interfax-Ukraine

Text: Alyona Manzhelo

Considering frequent statements on the possible resumption of flights in Ukraine, your visit is perceived as another powerful sign that this is possible. Is this your first visit to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion?

Yes, this is my first visit to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. I initiated a meeting with the top management of Kyiv-Boryspil Airport to discuss the possible resumption of flights to Ukraine, and we were warmly welcomed. During the visit, we had the opportunity to discuss with Oleksiy Dubrevskyy, CEO of Boryspil airport, the safe resumption of flights as well as to present plans of airBaltic for restart flights to Ukraine. We also observed the high level of the airport’s infrastructure readiness.

We arrived in Kyiv to say that we have a clear plan: as soon as Ukraine's airspace is open, we will immediately start our flights. In the first phase, we will operate flights to Ukraine from the three Baltic countries, which, in turn, are connected to many European destinations. This year airBaltic will operate 130 routes in its network from airBaltic home base cities. In the second phase, in a three to six-month term after the resumption of flights, we plan to base several aircraft in Kyiv. This fleet will operate flights to European capital airports and central markets.

So, will you fly to Ukraine from the three Baltic countries in the first phase?

In the first phase, our plans are aimed at establishing flights between Ukraine and Riga in Latvia, Vilnius in Lithuania, and Tallinn in Estonia. We will initially connect the three Baltic countries with Boryspil and Lviv