In November 2021, the State Enterprise for Air Traffic Services of Ukraine (UkSATSE) rendered air navigation services to 19,942 flights operated by Ukrainian and foreign air carriers, performed in the country’s airspace, which amounts to 87.2% of pre-crisis November 2019's number.
Statistical data has been released by UkSATSE press service on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.
According to the air traffic operator, Ukrainian air carriers in November 2021 performed 5,926 flights (22.8% below the number seen in November 2019), while foreign ones operated 14,016 flights (7.7% down).
These include 2,611 domestic flights (+15.4% against the corresponding period of 2019), 9,940 international flights (-17.3%) and 7,391 transit flights (-13.9%).
It is noted that in the last month of autumn Ukraine saw a seasonal decline in air traffic, as expected. In October, the number of flights stood at 25,090.
"A clear position on airspace safety over the Black Sea, as well as economic benefits, yield good results and allow us to count on more transit flights. In November, Azerbaijan Airlines and Silk Way West Airlines (Azerbaijan), as well as American Airlines, started using air routes in the Simferopol flight information region, said Andriy Yarmak, UkSATSE chief.
Since June 2021, all Ukrainian air carriers have been actively using routes in the Simferopol FIR, since July – Hungary’s Wizz Air and Cargolux cargo carrier, and from August – LOT Polish Airlines and Flynas. In October, the Lufthansa Group, which includes Lufthansa AG, Austrian Airlines, as well as Lufthansa Cargo and Aerologic cargo carriers, decided to resume flights in the airspace over the Black Sea under Ukraine’s control.
UkSATSE also noted the dynamics as regards traffic in Ukraine’s airspace since the beginning of 2021, which is 25,090 flights in October, 26,241 in September, 29,048 in August, 26,952 in July, 21,113 in June, 16,986 in May, 13,661 in April, 12,160 in March, 8,758 in February, and 9,842 in January.
In March 2020, Ukraine suspended flights due to COVID-19-related restrictions.
On June 5 last year, domestic flights were resumed, while inbound and outbound international air traffic was re-launched on June 15.
In 2020, the number of flights in the airspace under the responsibility of Ukraine’s operator amounted to 142,047, which is 57.6% below the level recorded in 2019.
