REUTERS
The aircraft could perform all intercity flights within Ukraine and those to foreign destinations within the region.
Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Tymoshenko has said an ad hoc group continues calculating the cost of and approaches to setting up a state-run air carrier that would solely operate aircraft manufactured at Kyiv-based state-owned Antonov.
"We will report on the developments and present the air carrier and the approaches in this regard. Everyone will be able to learn the cost of its founding," the President's Office quoted Tymoshenko as saying on April 29.
According to the official, Antonov aircraft are able to operate all intercity flights within Ukraine and those to foreign destinations within the region.
"In any case, Antonov is a [state-owned] enterprise requiring certain resources. But we would rather place an order and create an air carrier for these resources. They will be working and building aircraft, while the air carrier will be carrying passengers," he said.
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Tymoshenko has said the national air carrier will also be the so-called government "safeguard" in case of any emergencies.
"Yes, there is the market and there are air carriers. But the state should always be sure: if something goes wrong, there is a state air carrier to rely on. This is one of the reasons why it is being set up," he said.
As UNIAN reported, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier said he would like that a state-owned air carrier with Antonov aircraft be established in the country.