Wizz Air plans major expansion in war-torn country: here’s when flights restart

Europe’s leading low-cost airlines are preparing to re-enter Ukraine as soon as a peace agreement allows the country’s airspace and airports to reopen. Executives at Wizz Air, Ryanair and easyJet say they expect an immediate surge in demand driven by returning citizens, large-scale reconstruction projects and even a short-term wave of so-called “catastrophe tourism”.

Wizz Air plans major expansion in Ukraine

Hungary-based Wizz Air, formerly the largest non-Ukrainian carrier operating in the country, is preparing the most ambitious return. Before Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Wizz Air completed more than 5,000 flights to Ukraine in 2021, making it one of the dominant players in Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa.

Chief executive József Váradi told the Financial Times that the airline is “fully prepared” to move quickly.

“As soon as the airspace opens, we are going to be very quick to re-establish ourselves. Reopening would be a significant opportunity for us,” he said.

Wizz Air plans to station 15 aircraft in Ukraine within two years of a peace agreement, rising to 50 within seven years. Váradi expects strong demand from Ukrainians returning home, as well as travellers drawn by the country’s extensive reconstruction efforts and a temporary spike in visitors curious to see post-war sites.

“When the Berlin Wall came down, millions of people went there to see it,” he noted.

Ryanair aims to restart flights within two weeks

Ryanair also intends to move fast. The airline carried around 1.5 million passengers a year to Ukraine before flights were suspended, and it has already visited key airports in preparation for reopening.

Chief executive Eddie Wilson said Ryanair could place flights on sale within two weeks of any agreement that makes operations safe.

“With aircraft based in 95 airports across Europe, we can open routes from any of our bases without disrupting our network,” Wilson said. “There wouldn’t be any difficulty filling four million passengers over there.”