Tensions on the Ukrainian border continue to rise. This weekend saw the first cancelation of flights when Dutch flag carrier KLM suspended flights between Amsterdam and Kyiv. Memories of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 shot down over Ukraine in 2014 with two-thirds of the passengers being Dutch citizens undoubtedly played a part in the early move.British Airways is staying away from the potentially affected airspace, as is Norwegian Air. However, others see the threat to security as exaggerated, with airBaltic adding additional services to the Ukrainian capital. The Ukrainian government has vowed to keep its airspace open despite the growing hostilities.Meanwhile, flag carrier Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) has also been busy reacting to the situation, taking precautions of a different kind. On Monday, the airline said that its insurers had terminated cover for at least some of its airplanes operating in the country's airspace. This followed a warning from the US State Department that Russia could invade Ukraine at any time. UIA told Reuters in a statement that,

"UIA is making efforts and is constantly negotiating with insurance companies, the ministry of infrastructure of Ukraine, the state aviation administration and hopes for mutual understanding."

Heading to Castellon

Several jets are currently being flown out of Kyiv for long-term storage. Five of the carrier's 12 Boeing 737-800 aircraft headed to Castellon Airport (CDT) in Spain during Valentine's Day. Castellon was the site of a stored BA Boeing 747 catching fire in November 2020. Two other planes have also been sent to Serbia for scheduled maintenance.

SkyUp also in trouble

UIA is not the only victim of the loss of insurers' confidence. Ukrainian startup charter and low-cost carrier SkyUp Airlines has also been forced to cease sales of tickets as insurance companies, and lessors withdrew their protection.

The airline was forced to divert a flight from Portugal to Ukraine after the aircraft owner would not allow it to enter Ukrainian airspace. The weekly flight PQ902 from Funchal to Kiyv on Saturday, February 12th, landed instead in Chisinau in Moldova.

SkyUp Airlines, which commenced operations in 2018, has a fleet of 15 Boeing 737s. All of the aircraft, which have an average age of 14 years, are leased, and eight of the planes were listed as parked even before the loss of insurance cover.

Government pledges support

On Sunday, Ukraine's Prime Minister, Denys Shmygal, said that the government had set aside 16.6 billion hryvnia ($591.98 million) to ensure flight safety for insurance and leasing companies. According to the BBC, the Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Kirill Timoshenko, made the following statement over the weekend,

"Ukraine is ready to make financial commitments for the safety of aircraft in the Ukrainian sky. To ensure flight safety, the government today decided to allocate funds from the State Budget Reserve Fund to the Infrastructure Ministry. Guarantees will be provided for insurance companies, reinsurance companies, leasing companies and airlines."

Have you been affected by rerouting or flight suspensions due to the mounting tensions at the border between Russia and Ukraine? Leave a comment below and share your experience.