REUTERS

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says he agreed with his Slovakian counterpart the resumption of flights at Uzhgorod International Airport, which have been suspended over border line issues.

"Discussed topical issues with the PM of Slovakia Igor Matovič. Today we have given the light for resuming the operation of Uzhgorod Airport. Deeply grateful to Mr. Matovič and for the continued support for sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine," Shmyhal wrote on Twitter on August 18, 2020.

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Read alsoUkrainian airports' passenger flow doubles in past five years – CTSThe intergovernmental agreements are yet to be signed later, the official added.

Uzhgorod Airport: background

Regular flights from Uzhgorod Airport were suspended in early June 2018. At the end of the same year, the airport received a certificate from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Only on March 15, 2019, the airport resumed servicing regular flights after a break.

Yet, an intergovernmental agreement between Ukraine and the Slovak Republic is required for a full-fledged work since the runway ends just near the border line between the two countries, so immediately after take-off, planes technically cross into another country's airspace.

On June 10, the Ukrainian government approved a draft agreement on the use of part of the Slovak airspace at Uzhgorod Airport.