Ukraine International Airlines: Why the Airline Has Not Flown Since 2022

The forced stop since 2022

The closure of Ukrainian skies made any regular commercial operation impossible, and almost all countries have banned their carriers from overflying or landing in Ukraine because of the risk of damage to aircraft. Ukraine International Airlines has not operated scheduled flights under its own name for almost four years, awaiting the end of the conflict and the reopening of its airspace.

The fleet grounded in Kyiv

The airline's aircraft have remained parked at Kyiv-Boryspil airport since the start of the invasion, with the sole exception of one Embraer 190 that has continued to operate elsewhere. Meanwhile the airline has started bankruptcy proceedings after being sued by the Ukrainian state bank Ukreximbank over a debt of about 568 million dollars.

What to know today

Those who held tickets or vouchers issued before 2022 should check the status of their case directly with the airline or through the booking agency, since the ongoing bankruptcy proceedings may affect the timing and manner of refunds. For those who need to reach Ukraine today, access necessarily goes through overland links from neighboring countries, not a direct flight.

Ukraine International Airlines is not a booking option today for any kind of trip, since it has not operated civil flights since February 2022 and resumption remains conditional on both the end of the conflict and the reopening of its airspace. Those who still have a residual credit from a flight canceled in 2022 should contact the airline to understand how it is being handled within the ongoing bankruptcy proceedings, rather than expecting an automatic refund. For any travel need toward Ukraine, it is best today to plan an alternative route via neighboring countries.