The escalation of tensions in Ukraine in the face of a possible Russian invasion has generated a certain sense of insecurity among airlines. A week ago Air France-KLM suspended operations to the Eastern European country, and now the Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, Brussels, Swiss, Eurowings and Austrian), Vueling and Scandinavian Airlines have joined in.
As of today, Lufthansa, Austrian and Swiss will stop operating to Kiev (capital of Ukraine) and Odessa. Initially, according to the Group, they will be suspended until the end of February, but they clarify that they do not rule out extending it.
However, Lufthansa will continue to operate to Lviv, western Ukraine. Over the weekend, the three airlines have added frequencies and increased their capacity to serve stranded passengers and/or those seeking to leave the country.
Vueling, IAG’s Spanish low-cost airline, has canceled air connections to Kiev from Paris in February, a spokesman for the Barcelona-based company said Thursday.
Vueling canceled all eight direct flights from Paris Orly airport to and from Boryspil international airport near Kiev. The low cost carrier will maintain connections between Barcelona and Kiev.
The other IAG airlines, including British Airways and Iberia, do not fly to the country.
Finally, Scandinavian Airlines announced that it will suspend its flights to Ukraine from Tuesday between Kiev and Oslo. In principle until March 1.
The situation has also reached Ukrainian airlines, which have sent dozens of their aircraft out of Ukraine for insurance reasons.
Wizz Air and Ryanair have communicated that they will maintain their operations and even launched promotional fares to or from Ukraine.
