This article is part of a directory: Aviation In Ukraine: What's The Latest?
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The Ukrainian Government has allocated over half a billion dollars to calm the fears of lessors and insurance companies whose airline customers usually fly into Kyiv. Concerns are rising that Russia is poised to invade the country with an estimated 130,000 troops now massed near the border.

Airlines scramble as Ukrainian security situation heats up

In response to mounting security concerns, some airlines have already canceled flights into Ukraine, while others have diverted aircraft at the request of lessors. On the weekend, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines confirmed it was suspending its twice-daily flights to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Several weeks ago, KLM stopped letting its flight crews have overnight layovers in Ukraine.

German airline Lufthansa is reportedly reconsidering the immediate future of its flights to Ukraine, while Ukrainian charter airline SkyUp found one service on the weekend diverted to Chișinău after the aircraft's Irish owner banned its aircraft flying in Ukrainian airspace - that's awkward when you are a Ukrainian airline.

Photo: Getty Images

Airlines flying into Ukraine face insurance issues

Insurers have reportedly told Ukrainian airline companies that their aircraft are not covered for war risks. Fresh in the minds of airlines, their insurers, and lessors is the shooting down of a Malaysian Airlines flight over Ukraine in 2014.

"Lufthansa is monitoring the situation in Ukraine very closely," a spokesperson from that airline says. "There are now no more KLM flights through Ukrainian airspace until further notice," says KLM.

However, the Ukrainian Government remains keen to maintain international flights in and out of the country. On Sunday, the government allocated US$592 million to keep services running.

"The Government is allocating UAH 16.6 billion (US$592 million) to guarantee the continuity of flights in the airspace of Ukraine. Today's decision will allow stabilizing the situation on the air transport market and provide state guarantees for leasing and insurance companies," said Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal.

"This decision will stabilize the situation on the market of passenger air transportation and will guarantee the return to Ukraine of our citizens who are currently abroad."

In another statement, also issued on Sunday, the Ukrainian Government said airspace over the country remained open, and the state is working on preempting risks for airlines.

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Passengers at Kyiv's Boryspil International Airport on the weekend. Photo: Getty Images

Flights keep landing in Kyiv

On Sunday, Wizz Air was the only foreign airline flying into Kyiv's Sikorsky International Airport (IEV). That airline had multiple arrivals and departures from various points across Europe. Local airlines Bees Airline and Motor Sich Airlines are operating limited international services to and from Kyiv. It's a similar scenario on Monday with the addition of a sole LOT Polish flight from Warsaw.

Across at busier Boryspil International Airport (KBP), a more diverse range of airlines had flights scheduled to touch down on Sunday, including Ryanair, Qatar Airways, flydubai, SWISS, Lufthansa, and Turkish Airlines were among the high profile international carriers flying in. Most of those carriers remain scheduled to return on Monday, but are unlikely to do so until the situation eases.

The Ukrainian Government wants to keep as many airlines as possible flying in. They want to keep the country connected and people moving in and out. Those airlines and the people they carry also help provide a small buffer against any invasion. Over the next week, watchers will see whether the half a billion dollars plus in funding does the job and encourages airlines to stick around.