Ukraine's government amends airport development program – infrastructure minister

Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Kryklii says the Cabinet of Ministers has introduced amendments to a state program for the development of airports until 2023, which outlines tasks and activities required to bring airport infrastructure in line with international standards.

Read alsoInfrastructure minister elaborates on construction of airport in Zakarpattia region"The amendments to the State Targeted Program for Airport Development until 2023, approved by the government, will not only ensure the stable development of Ukraine's air transport sector and boost passenger traffic at our airports, but will also turn Ukraine into one of Europe's important and developed airline hubs," the minister's press service quoted Kryklii as saying on December 28.

The ministry reiterated it would continue upgrading regional airports in 2021. The national budget provides for UAH 2.4 billion (US$84.6 million) to this end.

2021 national budget & air transport

• On December 15, 2020, the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, passed a draft law on the 2021 national budget. The budget provides for the allocation of UAH 89 billion (US$3.1 billion) for the Great Construction program, UAH 4.5 billion (US$158.6 million) for the development of Ukrainian state-owned railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways), and UAH 2.4 billion (US$84.6 million) for the upgrading of airports.
• On the same day, the parliament backed a resolution on the Verkhovna Rada's budget for 2021.
• Kryklii says the national budget envisages funding of projects to develop airports in the cities of Dnipro, Vinnytsia, Rivne, and Kherson. In particular, UAH 1.4 billion (US$49.3 million) is earmarked for upgrading the airport in Dnipro, UAH 604 million (US$21.3 million) in Vinnytsia, UAH 320 million (US$11.3 million) in Kherson, and UAH 75.7 million (US$2.7 million) in Rivne.
• On December 17, 2020, Kryklii said the country's aviation industry might recover in 2021, having reached half of indicators posted in 2019.
• On December 21, 2020, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Razumkov signed the bill on the 2021 national budget.
• On December 25, 2020, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky enacted the bill, having signed it into law.