Wizz Air and Ryanair are preparing to return to Ukraine: when will flights reopen.

Return of Budget Airlines to Ukraine

According to ТСН: European budget airlines are preparing to resume their flights to Ukraine. This return is possible after the signing of a peace agreement and the reopening of airspace. Low-cost carriers hope for a surge in tourism and the return of people to the country.

According to the Financial Times, the Hungarian company Wizz Air plans to place 15 aircraft in Ukraine within two years after the peace agreement is signed, and within seven years this number could increase to 50.

We planned for this. As soon as the airspace opens, we will quickly resume our operations. The reopening will be a significant opportunity for us, said Wizz Air CEO József Váradi.

He also predicts an increase in interest in traveling to Ukraine, comparing it to the appeal of Berlin after the fall of the wall.

Wizz Air was the largest non-Ukrainian airline operating in Ukraine before the onset of the full-scale invasion. In 2021, the company operated over 5,000 flights, ranking among the top three largest carriers. Before the pandemic, in 2019, about 15 million passengers visited Ukraine.

Resumption of Ryanair and EasyJet Flights

The Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair announced that it could resume flights within two weeks after signing an agreement. Currently, their aircraft are based in 95 airports across Europe, opening up opportunities for new routes without disrupting the operation of the entire fleet.

We will make flights available for sale within two weeks. The only question is when it will be safe to fly, said the airline's CEO Eddie Wilson.

The Ryanair management board visited key Ukrainian airports with the aim of increasing passenger traffic to 4 million. Before the closure of airports, the airline transported about 1.5 million passengers per year to Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa.

The British carrier EasyJet, while not having flights to Ukraine before, is also exploring opportunities to open new routes. CEO Kenton Jarvis noted that the country could become the biggest construction project in Europe, and people would eagerly return when the situation becomes safe.

From an operational standpoint, air traffic management can be started quite quickly. It all depends on the state of airports and runways, added the company's CEO.

However, unlike Wizz and Ryanair, EasyJet does not plan to base aircraft in Ukraine in the near future.

Currently, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency recommends not flying over Ukraine due to high risks for civil aviation associated with military actions.

The Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair is also significantly expanding its presence at the main airport of Slovakia. In the schedule for 2026, the company plans to operate a record number of flights from Bratislava - 33 routes, of which 10 are completely new.

The return of budget airlines to Ukraine may become an important step in restoring the country's tourism infrastructure. The reopening of airspace will open up new opportunities for travelers and businesses, strengthening Ukraine's ties to the world. At the same time, safety will remain the top priority for airlines, and their flight schedules will directly depend on the current situation in the region.