An Emerging Hub for Domestic and International Air Travel

More than 20 million foreign visitors per year travel to Ukraine, making it Europeʼs eighth most popular tourism destination. Situated at the crossroads of central and eastern Europe, travel to and from Ukraine has been on the rise since the dissolution of the USSR, a trend that government and the broad public alike seem keen to see continue.

Those working at Donetsk Sergey Prokofiev International Airport are likewise keen to do their part. Supported by the Ukraine government and international development agencies, Donetsk International management firmly believes the airport is well suited to serve as a hub for both domestic and international air travel.

Now capable of serving between 5 million – 7 million passengers per year, Donetsk International is Ukraine’s second busiest airport. More than 20 airlines are operating out of the airport at present, flying to around 30 destinations.

“We are looking to open new destinations in Europe. Wizzair is starting new operations to Dortmund…and we are also pushing to open a London route as it’s the top destination from Donetsk,” general manager Kirill Osypov elaborated. “With capacity and infrastructure that we have, our priority is long-haul flights. In July we’ll be the second airport in Ukraine to have a connection to China.”

Originally built in the 1940s and 1950s, Donetsk International was rebuilt in 1973, and then renovated again between 2011 and 2012. That included the opening of a new 4,000-meter-long by 75-meter-wide runway, which enables the airport to accommodate any modern aircraft – cargo or passenger. Most recently, preparations for co-hosting UEFA’s Euro 2012 football championship saw the opening of a new, seven-story terminal with the capacity to accommodate an estimated 3,100 passengers per hour.

“We hope to become the major travel hub for the Ukraine,” Osypov explained. “It’s difficult to develop a hub without a domestic airline, but our geographical location is very convenient, exactly between Asia and Europe, and we have all the capabilities and facilities to achieve this goal.”

Management is taking steps to increase passenger fl ow and the number of flights, as well as route network development. More specifically, they have been working closely with Ukraine’s Minister of Infrastructure on a program that allows them to offer airlines discounts of up to 80% for strategic routes.

Part and parcel of Donetsk International’s strategic plan, Osypov has streamlined the airport’s organizational structure, making it flatter, improving communication and making the organization more responsive.

“The staff here appreciates that we are not just a company, but we are like a little family — we trust each other, everyone can be a backup for each other. My staff can come to me and talk about the problems or ideas they have. I treat everyone equally,” Osypov said.