Oleksiy Dubrevskyy, Director General of Boryspil International Airport noted during the ACI Europe Congress: “After we are victorious, the role of the Airport will become even more important for the economy of Ukraine”

24 June 2022

From 22 to 24 June 2022 in Rome, Italy, at Fiumicino International Airport, the Assembly of the International Airports Council International (ACI Europe) was held, dedicated to the European air transportation market and the challenges faced by the aviation industry caused by COVID-19 and the Russian military aggression against Ukraine.

The annual ACI EUROPE Congress gathers the European airport community with their industry partners, senior officials of the European Union, EUROCONTROL, EASA, and ECAC. This year the Assembly was held under the slogan “Turning the corner – shaping our new normal”.
Director General of Boryspil International Airport, Adviser to the Minister of Infrastructure Oleksiy Dubrevskyy received a special invitation to the Assembly to address the international audience.

Oleksiy Dubrevskyy was invited to share the practical experience of responding to the military invasion and preserving the Airport as a critical infrastructure during the war. In his report, he outlined the problems and challenges faced by Ukraine’s civil aviation during the war and suggested ways to ensure further cooperation with international partners on the comprehensive restoration of the industry and infrastructure affected by hostilities in Ukraine.

Oleksiy Dubrevskyy appreciated the ACI EUROPE committee for the opportunity to address the European community and provided the facts of the destruction of Ukrainian airports as a result of shelling by the Russian aggressor, resulting in casualties, destruction of critical infrastructure of Ukrainian civil aviation, housing stock.

“After Ukraine defeats the occupier, we will all have to work really hard to restore the industry. Both Ukrainian and European aviation will have to overcome various challenges. We need cooperation and joint support from the international community to restore damaged infrastructure in Ukraine, and improve security and air safety systems”, commented Oleksiy Dubrevskyy in his speech at the Assembly.

In his report, the Director General of Boryspil International Airport focused on the immediate decisions that were implemented during the four months of the war to preserve the airport’s infrastructure and focused on two key directions. The first one is the restoration of infrastructure and aviation security, and the second is a strategic vision for the postwar development of Ukraine’s aviation industry. Thus, before the war, Boryspil International Airport, as the main air gate of Ukraine, concentrated 60% of the national passenger flow and 85% of the cargo flow.

The Ukrainian government is already setting the task of reviving the country’s economy and restoring it on a full scale. After the victory, the role of Boryspil International Airport will become even more important: the return of Ukrainian refugees, delivery of humanitarian goods, equipment, and medicines, and servicing the citizens of those regions where airports were significantly affected and will not be able to launch on the spot, and much more.
At the end of the meeting, the hosts of the ACI Europe Assembly presented Oleksiy Dubrevskyy with a painting “DETI”, by the famous Italian contemporary artist, founder of the art movement Nuovo Futurismo, Marco Lodola. It was created by the artist after the whole world community was shocked by the bombing of the Mariupol Drama Theater by Russian troops, where hundreds of Ukrainian children were hiding in the basement. The painting is made in the colors of the peace flag and is reminiscent of the many sufferings caused by the lasting war. One of the main elements is the famous pigeon by Pablo Picasso. Currently, the artist’s paintings are displayed at the Aeroporti di Roma.