Is it possible to resume air traffic in Ukraine in 2026: the government has assessed the chances
14 January 13:34
EXCLUSIVE
The question of the possible resumption of civil aviation in Ukraine remains open and directly depends on the security situation. In response to an information request "Komersant Ukrainian", the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine emphasized that Ukrainian airspace currently remains a high-risk zone for civil aviation. When will Ukrainian airspace reopen for civil flights? Are there realistic scenarios for launching air traffic in 2026 — and what exactly needs to change on the front lines and in the air defense system to make this possible? Which airports could potentially be the first to start, and is the infrastructure ready for a quick resumption of flights — answers to these questions can be found in this article.
Ukraine’s airspace — a conflict zone
According to Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development Andriy Kashuba, due to the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation, Ukraine’s airspace has been officially classified as a high-risk conflict zone.
“Due to the military invasion of the Russian Federation into the territory of Ukraine, the airspace above it has been classified as a conflict zone with a high degree of risk to civil aviation safety due to the presence of real threats to its activities,” Kashuba said.
According to him, the level of threats is assessed on an ongoing basis.
“The State Aviation Service of Ukraine, together with the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, continuously assesses the level of threats and risks within the territory of Ukraine and the airspace above it,” the deputy minister said.
When airports may reopen
The ministry emphasizes that the resumption of airport operations is only possible after a set of security measures has been implemented.
“The issue of resuming the operational activities of Ukrainian airports will be considered after the implementation of measures that will ensure an acceptable level of safety for civil aviation flights,” Kashuba stressed.
In addition to safety, the condition of the infrastructure itself will also be taken into account.
“The decision will also depend on the condition of the infrastructure, the capacity of passenger terminals and runways, as well as the availability of sufficient qualified personnel,” he explained.
Airports are preparing, but no decision has been made yet
Despite the lack of specific dates or a list of airports, preparatory work is ongoing.
“According to available information, airports are in constant contact with airlines as strategic partners, particularly with regard to updating contracts and resolving related commercial issues in the event of a decision to resume operations,” the deputy minister said.
Conclusion
Thus, in 2026, the issue of resuming air traffic in Ukraine remains dependent solely on security factors. The government has not announced specific dates, but confirms that technical and organizational preparations in the industry have not been halted and can be activated immediately after the relevant decision is made.
