Insurers withdraw cover for Ukrainian airline carrier
Ukrainian airline SkyUp said it has suspended sales of flight tickets for the next two days after global insurers withdrew cover for aircraft flying in Ukraine’s airspace.
As tensions mount on the border with Russia, SkyUp said it is working with state authorities to resolve the issues and allow flights to continue in and out of Ukraine.
“On Feb. 12, 2022, the world’s largest insurance companies informed Ukrainian air carriers that in 48 hours they would stop insuring aircraft for flights in Ukrainian airspace. This decision is associated with increased risks of military invasion,” SkyUp said in a statement.
Without insurance, aircraft owners have ordered the return of aircraft to within European Union borders as soon as possible.
“The current situation requires a solution at the state level. Now we are working together with state authorities to find solutions,” said Dmytro Seroukhov, CEO of SkyUp.
“We are doing everything possible to continue to operate flights on a regular basis but we cannot ignore the demands of lessors. We have temporarily stopped the sale of tickets for flights from Feb. 14-16, 2022, and are waiting for a solution to the situation,” he added.
At the weekend, SkyUp was forced to divert a plane traveling from Madeira to Kyiv to Moldova, after instructions from the aircraft’s owner in Ireland.
Ukraine allocated almost $600 million to maintain flights in and out of the country, in response to cancellations and diversions from several international airlines.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said the additional money would “ensure flight safety in Ukraine for insurance and leasing companies”.
However, Dutch airline KLM suspended all flights based on travel warnings to Ukraine from its government. And the US and the UK have asked nationals to leave the country.
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