Planes will be able to fly from Lviv from January 2025, if politicians and military allow it

Military insurance can allow civilians aircraft fly from Lviv airport as early as January 2025, said Crispin Ellison, senior partner at Marsh McLennan, who gave an interview to the Kyiv Post during the Kyiv International exhibition. Economic Forum.

Marsh McLennan, a global leader in risk management services, is working on military insurance for cargo ships transporting grain through the Ukrainian Black Sea corridor. He is also negotiating military insurance for planes that could fly out of Ukraine once the skies become safer for flying.

Ellison emphasized that the market is ready and companies are interested, but political will and a favorable “war situation” are needed. If this happens tomorrow, the planes will be ready to take off from January 2025.

“I think we could be ready by the end of January 2025, if the military situation allows. And, of course, this is a political decision. But a lot of preparation has been made for the opening of the airport,” the speaker said.

In this scenario, flight frequency would be low “while we test the system and build trust” the first time, and then increase.

Ticket prices if airports open during war

If airports reopen, Ellison said the first flights will be expensive. The premiums that airlines will pay could be higher if flights are not set as they were on the pre-war schedule.

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“In the beginning, when the risks become less known, it will be expensive. But as you get more flights and it becomes more normal, you can expect insurance premiums to go down,” he said.

Premiums are expected to become cheaper once more and more aircraft feel safe traveling to Ukraine. International low-cost airlines, global national airlines and Ukrainian airlines are interested in returning to work in Ukraine. “It’s the airlines’ choice, and I won’t name them… there’s a lot of interesting stuff out there,” Ellison added.

Lviv and Kyiv should open first, if the military situation allows.

Lviv should be the first airport to try as the planes are only 7 minutes away from reaching the Polish border. According to the speaker, Lviv is currently also safer than Kyiv, even safer than Israel.

“Tel Aviv airport was attacked more often than Lviv airport. It’s that simple. Tel Aviv airport has been the subject of quite a few attacks recently. There is no Lviv airport. And that could be because the airport is closed,” Ellison explained.

But senior partner Marsh McLennan also wants Boryspil, Kyiv’s main airport, to reopen.

“You have a very good, but small airport in Lviv. But you have a fantastic facility in Boryspil with four terminals,” he said.

The full version of the interview about how to protect assets from the risks of war can be read on the Kyiv Post website.