Leading aviation insurance companies have told airlines to cease all flights through Ukrainian airspace over fears that Russia plans to “imminently” invade Ukraine. The news was first revealed by Ukrainian low-cost airline SkyUp which confirmed that its fleet of leased aircraft was now being seized back by lessors because of the lack of insurance coverage.
Lessors have demanded SkyUp return aircraft to within the boundaries of the European Union (EU) until the diplomatic situation has stabilized. On Saturday, a nine-year-old Boeing 737 operated by SkyUp and flying from Funchal, Portugal to Kyiev was forced to land outside of Ukraine following a demand made by the aircraft’s owner.
A spokesperson for SkyUp said the airline managed to negotiate with the lessor for the plane to be diverted to Chisinau in Moldova where the 175 passengers onboard could be transferred the final 477 km by bus. The road journey took more than six hours.
The airline has been forced to cancel many of its flights and has suspended ticket sales from Monday through to Wednesday in the hope that a solution can be found. Other aircraft lessors are, however, demanding that planes be moved out of Ukraine.
“On February 12, 2022, the world’s largest insurance companies informed Ukrainian air carriers that in 48 hours they would stop insuring insurance for flights in Ukrainian airspace. This decision is associated with increased risks of military invasion,” a SkyUp spokesperson confirmed.
“The situation is being discussed at the state level: in order for airlines to be able to continue flights to Ukraine, the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine is holding an urgent meeting to develop solutions.”
SkyUp chief executive Dmytro Seroukhov said the airline was doing “everything possible” to operate flights but that it could not ignore the demands of aircraft lessors.
“The current situation requires a solution at the state level. Now we are working together with state authorities to find solution,” Seroukhov commented.
The United States has urged its citizens to flee Ukraine and has started to evacuate embassy and consular staff over fears that Russia plans to invade the country. Similar warnings have been issued by several other countries including the UK and Germany.
The US State Department suspended consular services in Ukraine on Sunday. Citizens have been warned that the U.S. may not be able to help get them out should Russia invade Ukraine.
On Saturday, Dutch flag carrier KLM announced it would suspend all services to Kyiev with immediate effect. The last scheduled service from Amsterdam to Kyiev was meant to depart on Saturday evening but was quickly shelved following the publication of updated travel guidance from the Dutch government.
“It is not yet clear when KLM will fly to Kyiv again,” the airline said in a statement. A spokesperson said the decision to suspend flights to Ukraine was based on security advice from various Dutch government agencies.
Apart from its service to Kyiv, KLM has not flown through Ukrainian airspace following the downing of Maylasia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014 which was brought down by an anti-aircraft missile as it flew high above the Ukraine / Russia border.
