What fighter jets the European Union will give to Ukraine?

 

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has asked the European Union for jet fighter jets some EU countries plan to supply them, EU foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell said Sunday.

Any planes would be supplied directly by EU member states and not funded through an arrangement announced earlier for the EU to finance weapons deliveries to Ukraine.

Mr. Borrell said that Mr. Kuleba had requested planes that Ukrainian Air Force pilots can fly. Ukraine’s jet fighters are Soviet-built MiG and Sukhoi models.

Since training a fighter pilot to fly a type of aircraft is a time-consuming and expensive process, it seems reasonable to assume that the only rapid transfer possible might involve a fighter already serving in the Ukraine Air Force.

Some current EU members that were once part of the USSR-led Warsaw Pact still fly such planes or have old ones parked.

These countries plan to hand over their warplanes to #Ukraine.

• Bulgaria (MiG-29) 16 units
• Bulgaria (Su-25) 14 units
• Poland (MiG-29) 28 units
• Slovakia (MiG-29) 12 units

The aircraft could be deployed at the Polish airport, where Ukrainian pilots will carry out combat missions.

ALERT Russia bans airlines from 36 countries from using its airspace

 

Russia has banned airlines from 36 countries from using its airspace in a tit-for-tat response to Western sanctions.

On Sunday, Europe shut its skies to Russian owned or controlled planes. The announcement means all planes, including the private jets of oligarchs, will now be unable to land in, take off from or fly over any EU nation.

It is one of a number of sanctions imposed by Western nations on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

On Monday, the Russian aviation regulator, Rosaviatsia, said: “A restriction has been imposed on flights for airlines of 36 countries in accordance with international law as a retaliatory measure for the ban imposed by the European states on the flights of commercial airliners operated by Russian airlines and/or registered in Russia.”

The measures mean airlines will have to make long detours on some routes, potentially raising the cost of fuel and tickets.

The countries banned from Russia’s airspace are: Albania, Anguilla, Austria, Belgium, British Virgin Islands, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark (including Greenland, the Faroe Islands), Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK.

Swiss International Airlines, which is owned by Germany’s Lufthansa, said that it had cancelled flights from Zurich to Moscow despite Switzerland not appearing on Russia’s list of banned countries.

A spokesperson for the Swiss airline also said it was not flying through Russian airspace.

Ukraine International Airlines forced to suspend all regular and charter flights

 

Ukraine International Airlines announces the suspension of scheduled and charter flights to and from Ukraine due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace for civilian airspace users until 23:59 on February 24, 2022, Kyiv time.

UIA maintains and will maintain liaison with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine. All UIA passengers and citizens of Ukraine who have found themselves abroad and must return to Ukraine must register on the state website of the State Registration of Ukrainian Citizens

Registered citizens will be provided with information about flights to these points and to points of arrival in Ukraine.

All current information on the further status of flights will be posted on the official UIA website. Passengers of canceled flights will be informed by e-mail or phone, which are specified in the reservation. Passengers, please, check the availability of relevant contact information at Ukraine International Airlines – e-mail, individual mobile phone number.

JAMES G. WAWERU

Senior aviation Editor,

James is a navigator/FOM2 currently blogging at airbizafrica. 

He is an aviation ethusiast and has an eye for details that 

often helps him spot the best stories of the day... 

airBaltic suspends night flights to and from Ukraine

 

airBaltic has temporarily suspend overnight flights to and from Ukraine.

As the geopolitical situation in the country deteriorates, the decision will remain in place until at least the end of February.

As a result of the suspension, the airline has cancelled five overnight rotations between Kyiv and Riga as well as two rotations between Odessa and Riga.

The airline said it will contact the affected passengers and offer them to be rebooked on other connections.

The Latvian carrier will continue to provide flights from Kyiv to both Riga and Vilnius.

A statement said: “The safety of our passengers and employees is the main priority of airBaltic.

“airBaltic is evaluating the current situation before each flight and following the recommendations issued by official authorities.

“airBaltic is flexible and ready to adjust its flight schedule if necessary.”

This week airBaltic plans to provide daily flights between Kyiv and Riga as well as two flights between Kyiv and Vilnius.

JAMES G. WAWERU

Senior aviation Editor,

James is a navigator/FOM2 currently blogging at airbizafrica. 

He is an aviation ethusiast and has an eye for details that 

often helps him spot the best stories of the day... 

Ukraine is hoping to keep its airspace open to international travel despite Russia threat

 

Ukraine on Sunday vowed to keep its airspace open to international travel despite Western warnings that Russian troops conducting drills near its borders could invade at any point.

The Dutch carrier KLM on Saturday became the first major airline to indefinitely suspend flights to the former Soviet republic because of the rising risks.

“The airspace over Ukraine remains open and the state is working on preempting risks for airlines,” the infrastructure ministry said after convening an emergency meeting focused on the threat of Ukraine being cut off from international flights.

Industry analysts believe other international airlines may soon also ban flights into Ukraine because of the growing cost to travel insurers.

JAMES G. WAWERU

Senior aviation Editor,

James is a navigator/FOM2 currently blogging at airbizafrica. 

He is an aviation ethusiast and has an eye for details that 

often helps him spot the best stories of the day... 

BREAKING KLM suspends all flights to Ukraine, effective immediately

 

Dutch airline KLM announced it will stop flying to Ukraine because of the urgent travel alert issued by the Netherlands on Saturday.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned Dutch citizens not to travel to Ukraine, and said those who are there, including residents, should leave the country.

The new travel advice was issued because of growing fears that Russia will invade Ukraine.

The airline already stopped flying over the eastern regions of Ukraine and Crimea since 2014. KLM was a codeshare partner with Malaysia Airlines when flight MH17 was shot down by a Russian missile while flying over eastern Ukraine.

The next flight to the capital, Kyiv, was scheduled to depart at 1 a.m. on Sunday, but it was cancelled. The decision was not only prompted by the new travel advice, but also on the basis of an “extensive safety analysis,” according to KLM.

For the analysis, the airline made use of information that is shared within a group of experts. All Dutch airlines, the Dutch intelligence services, the Ministries of Defence, the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Foreign Affairs, Infrastructure and Water Management and the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV) participate in the expert group.

JAMES G. WAWERU

Senior aviation Editor,

James is a navigator/FOM2 currently blogging at airbizafrica. 

He is an aviation ethusiast and has an eye for details that 

often helps him spot the best stories of the day... 

Boeing launches the 777-8 freighter, Qatar Airways orders 34 aircraft

 

Qatar Airways orders up to 50 777-8 Freighters, expanding its commitment to the Boeing 777X family.

Boeing today launched the new 777-8 Freighter and expanded its market-leading 777X and freighter families of jetliners with an order for up to 50 aircraft from one of the world’s largest cargo carriers, Qatar Airways.

Qatar Airways will be the 777-8 Freighter launch customer with a firm order for 34 jets and options for 16 more, a total purchase that would be worth more than $20 billion at current list prices and the largest freighter commitment in Boeing history by value.

With payload capacity nearly identical to the 747-400 Freighter and a 25% improvement in fuel efficiency, emissions and operating costs, the 777-8 Freighter will enable a more sustainable and profitable business for operators.

At the White House, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, His Excellency Ambassador Sheikh Mishaal bin Hamad Al Thani, Director of the White House National Economic Council Brian Deese, and Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun joined the formal signing by Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Stan Deal and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, who reaffirmed the airline’s commitment to the 777X family with the record-breaking 777-8 Freighter deal.

First delivery of the new freighter is anticipated in 2027.

Boeing is designing the 777-8 Freighter, the newest member of the 777X family, to maximize efficiency and environmental performance. The widebody family features engineering design improvements and innovative technologies, including a new carbon-fiber composite wing and new fuel-efficient engines.

With a range of 4,410 nautical miles (8,167 km), the 777-8 Freighter has a maximum structural payload of 118 tonnes, allowing customers to make fewer stops and reduce landing fees on long-haul routes.

Boeing will build the 777-8 Freighter in its Everett, Wash., factory. The company has invested more than $1 billion into the Everett site to support 777X production and sustain thousands of local jobs for decades to come.

JAMES G. WAWERU

Senior aviation Editor,

James is a navigator/FOM2 currently blogging at airbizafrica. 

He is an aviation ethusiast and has an eye for details that 

often helps him spot the best stories of the day...