Page 60 - UKRRptSept20

compared to 4,584 in June. But the July number is only one third the level of July 2019. Ukraine’s air traffic control agency derives most of its revenue from flight charges.
Next year, Ukraine will create a domestic airline based on a fleet of regional jets produced by Kyiv’s Antonov​, Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Krykliy said August 13 on a visit to Kharkiv State Aircraft Manufacturing Company. “Aircraft manufactured by Antonov will be used for regional transportation,” he said. To boost domestic air travel, Ukraine is abolishing the 20% VAT tax on domestic tickets. Last year, 16 of Ukraine’s 54 civilian airports carried passengers -- on scheduled or charter flights. About 5mn people flew out of regional airports.
Kyiv Boryspil passenger traffic was down 80% y/y in July, to 328,667,
from 1.6mn in July 2019. Hubbing, a key component of UIA’s model, was wiped out. Last month, the airport recorded 3,146 transfer passengers, less than 1% of the 358,746 passengers handled in July 2019. Thanks to a strong first quarter, Boryspil’s air traffic is down by only two thirds for the January-July, to 2.85mn people. Until anti-virus restrictions were imposed worldwide in mid-March, Boryspil was handling about 1mn passengers a month.
The Cabinet of Ministers is allocating $4mn in an effort to finally complete the long overdue and long over budget Odesa runway project, Prime Minister Shmygal said yesterday. Separately, in a long term effort to provide reliable air service to Zakarpattia, budget money also will be allocated to design an airport for Mukachevo. Located on site of an old Soviet air base, the Mukachevo airport would replace the Uzhgorod airport, which borders on Slovakia.
● Trains
The first private locomotives will haul freight trains on Ukrzaliznytsia tracks in a pilot project this fall​. The state railroad selected Ukrainian Locomotive Company, a private company run by Volodomyr Krot, an UZ alumnus. Reflecting big interest in private freight trains, 10 companies applied to be chosen for the pilot project. To minimize chances of accidents, the private trains will not run on main lines used by express passenger trains. Krot has 14 2M62 diesel locomotives, models built Luganskteplovoz until Russia’s occupied the plant in 2014. If the pilot project goes well, Krot tells the centre for Transportation Strategies, his company could buy “up to 50 electric locomotives.”
As rail freight volumes recover, Ukrzaliznytsia carried 25.2mn tons in July, only 3% less than the tonnage carried in July 2019​, reports Rail.Insider news site. Volumes have increased steadily since May, the month when cargo hit “bottom,” says Ivan Yuryk, acting CEO of the state railroad.
● Ships
The long-delayed cross Danube ferry crossing openned in August between Isaccea, Romania, and Orlivka, Odesa region. ​For drivers between Odesa and Constanta, Romania, the ferry will cut out a 2-hour, 100 km detour through Moldova. It will also be Odesa’s first border crossing with the EU.
60​ UKRAINE Country Report​ September 2020 ​ ​www.intellinews.com