**Ukraine Close to Resuming Commercial Flights**
The Ukrainian government is almost ready to resume commercial flights, but the safety of passengers and crew is still a concern. Communities and Territories Development Minister Oleksii Kuleba said that Ukraine needs “very serious air defenses” before it can reopen its airspace.
Kuleba told a local broadcaster on November 21 that Ukraine’s security architecture requires strong air defense systems at airports. He said that until these are in place, commercial flights cannot be guaranteed. This is a major issue for the country as it tries to recover from the devastating effects of the full-scale invasion and martial law.
**Restarting Commercial Flights**
Commercial flights were suspended when Ukraine closed its airspace at the start of the war in 2022. However, some experts believe that this could change next year. Crispin Ellison, a senior partner at Marsh McLennan insurance and risk management firm, said on November 7 that one of Ukraine’s airports, either in Lviv or Boryspil near Kyiv, could reopen by the end of January 2025.
Ellison told a reporter at the Kyiv International Economic Forum that opening Lviv airport would be a first step towards reopening other major airports like Boryspil. However, he said that this would depend on confirmation around air defenses and military situation, allowing regulatory sign-off.
**Insurance Companies Ready**
Ukrinform reported that insurance companies are ready for political decisions on the resumption of air traffic with Ukraine. In October, Ukraine presented a roadmap for the partial reopening of its airspace under martial law, outlining step-by-step plans and requirements.
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