Ukraine is exploring private investment models as a key strategy to rebuild and operate its airports, even as the country continues to face the challenges of war. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have joined forces to conduct a detailed study on how private companies could support the management and maintenance of Ukraine’s airport infrastructure.
Commissioned in 2024 by Ukraine’s Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories, the study is expected to be completed by August. It aims to identify viable models for private sector involvement, including potential public-private partnerships (PPPs) and concession agreements.
Marina Denysiuk, Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories, said the initiative is intended to ease pressure on the national budget, particularly in wartime. “Private sector participation is an essential pillar of our broader recovery plan,” Denysiuk noted, adding that early involvement—even before the end of the conflict—would help lay the groundwork for a faster post-war recovery.
The study will prioritize major airports such as Boryspil, Odesa, and Lviv, with the goal of finding solutions that maintain infrastructure standards and reduce the need for direct government expenditure. Ukraine’s airspace remains closed to civilian traffic due to the ongoing Russian invasion, and many airport facilities have sustained damage or degradation.
Authorities hope that private capital will not only support reconstruction and modernization, but also ensure that Ukraine’s airports are ready for a swift restart of air travel once conditions allow.
