KBP airport expands flight routes

The international Kyiv Borispil (KBP) airport has expanded its flight geography with over 20 new flights to Europe and Asia during the winter navigation season, which started Oct. 27, 2013. It currently includes 100 global routes by 50 international airlines, the Information-Analytical Bulletin of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine informs.

KBP will operate the first flight of the largest international carrier Emirates (Dubai, UAE) on 16 January 2014. Dubai — Kyiv — Dubai flights will be operated daily by Airbus A340–500. This is the first airline to allow Ukrainian passengers use business class services. 

The Swiss International Airlines, the largest Swiss air company, will start daily Zurich — Kyiv — Zurich flights from the first day of the winter navigation. 

Regular long-haul flights to South-East Asia will expand considerably as well. Flights to Bangkok (Thailand) are envisioned to commence in early November, three times a week, while regular flights to Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) are planned to start from January. 

Aviation experts expect passenger traffic increase by 20% in 2014 under the Strategy of development of the airport. 

The strategy of sustainable development of the country’s main transport connections envisages attracting new carriers, liberalization of air space of the Kyiv air center and improving the airport infrastructure, which will considerably enhance the logistics of the international airport. 

Government analysts say the Strategy’s plan for the next 20 years aims to increase passenger traffic and primarily involves transfer technology service for passengers traveling through Terminal D to ensure a single technological process for efficient service for international and domestic flights. 

The current key issue of logistics is the following: Ukraine International Airlines (UIA), the main local carrier, uses Terminal B for internal flights and Terminal D for international flights. This results in much time wasted on passenger transfer and baggage handling (under the current schedule, Terminal D is capable of servicing 10 million passengers annually. Its capacity can increase to15 million passengers if it is renovated and an internal flight area is constructed). 

During summer navigation in 2014, Terminal D will cover all UIA local flights whereas Terminal B will service charters and low-cost airlines in order to resolve this issue. 

The platforms (total area of 13 hectares) near Terminal D will be considerably enlarged in 2014 to offset acute shortage of space for aircraft maintenance near Terminal D. Available platforms can service about twenty planes at a time whereas 30 of them can arrive at on-peak periods. The apron in front of Terminal D totals 200 thousand square meters, and the cost of the project together with the construction of taxiways is about 450 million dollars. 

The International Borispil airport SOE is the largest airport in Ukraine and Ukraine’s strategic transport hub. Today, KBP is a leader on the aviation market of the country providing 65% of the passenger traffic in Ukraine.