Ukraine, ICAO preliminary agree to resume flights on four routes over Black Sea

Ukraine has reached preliminary agreements with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Air Transport Association (IATA), U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and EUROCONTROL on resuming civil aviation flights on the international air routes over the Black Sea.

The press service of the Ukrainian State Air Traffic Services Enterprise (UkSATSE) reported that UkSATSE suggested several options how to restore air traffic flows in the Ukrainian area of responsibility, thus allowing airlines to cut their cost and to ease congestion on crowded air routes at the flight information regions of the neighboring countries.

During the meetings, representatives of ICAO, IATA, FAA and EUROCONTROL made a number of comments and suggestions, as a result of which four routes were chosen for further possible planning and performance of flights by airspace users.

"We made clear proposals and proved the readiness of the Ukrainian Air Navigation Service Provider, including the availability of technical facilities, to provide air traffic services in the international airspace over the Black Sea. Our reasons were heard. At the moment, UkSATSE is amending and finalizing the safety case, taking into account propositions of the international experts," reads the report, citing acting deputy director on air navigation at UkSATSE Ruslan Hutsan.

He also added that in the short run there will be a working meeting with representatives of IATA and EUROCONTROL concerning renewal of the air traffic flow over the Black Sea.