Ukraine’s state air traffic services has closed the country’s airspace to civilian flights, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In a statement the body said:
“Based on the urgent message of the Main Center for the Use of Airspace of Civil Aviation of the Russian Federation, due to the high risk of aviation safety for civil aviation from 00.45 UTC (2.45 Kyiv time) of the Joint Civil-Military Air Traffic Management System of Ukraine on the use of Ukraine’s airspace , in accordance with the requirements of the Air Code of Ukraine and the Regulations on the use of Ukrainian airspace, has taken urgent measures to close Ukraine’s airspace to civilian airspace users.
“The provision of air traffic services to civilian users of the airspace of Ukraine is suspended.”
The move comes as many airlines had begun cancelling flights this week, as can be seen on this forum thread.
Ryanair – which operates flights to and from Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa airport – also released the following statement this morning:
“Due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace overnight, and the apparent invasion by Russian forces all Ryanair flights to/from Ukraine have been suspended for at least the next 14 days.
“All affected passengers will receive email notices later this morning and all flights to/from Ukraine have been removed from sale for at least next four weeks until further information becomes available from EU safety agencies.
“Ryanair remains committed to our services to/from Ukraine and we look forward to restoring flight services there as soon as it is safe to do so.
“We sincerely regret and apologise for these unprecedented disruptions and any inconvenience that they will inevitably cause to our Ukrainian customers.”
Business Traveller will continue to update the above forum thread with any information received by individual airlines.
