Ukraine readies to open airspace for passenger transportation – French Minister of Transport

French Minister of Transport Clément Beaune said this in an interview with European Pravda.

The French minister said this when speaking about cooperation with Ukraine in training Ukrainian civil aviation pilots and air traffic controllers.

According to Beaune, Ukrainians are already practicing on simulators in France, and during talks in Kyiv, the two countries agreed to expand this cooperation.

“This is actually a very necessary thing. I hope the moment when civil aviation flights resume over Ukraine will come as soon as possible. And if the pilots have no practice, they will not be allowed to resume work immediately due to safety rules. That is why we are helping Ukraine prepare for the moment when your airspace will be fully or partially open,” the French government member said.

Beaune emphasized that it is not up to him to decide when this will happen. However, he said, Ukrainian officials are now preparing to open the airspace to civilian flights.

“As I understand it, Ukraine already has certain considerations for this opening, and Kyiv is working hard on it. But, of course, the main issue is still security,” the minister said.

Ukraine completely closed its airspace to civilian aircraft on February 24, 2022, the day Russia's full-scale invasion began.

• The European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol) has predicted restrictions on flights over Ukraine until 2029. In response to this forecast, Ukraine’s state air traffic operator said that airspace would be opened immediately after the end of hostilities and Ukraine's victory.

• Ukraerorukh, Ukraine’s state air traffic operator, has already received two tranches of international assistance from Eurocontrol’s Aeronautical Solidarity Fund to maintain staff qualifications and operating costs.