President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Marc Rochet, CEO of the French consulting company Aerogestion. The interlocutors discussed the optimal models for creating a national air carrier of Ukraine.
The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Head of the Office of the President Iuliia Svyrydenko and Aerogestion expert Pierre Denizet.
The President informed the guests that a number of large infrastructure projects are currently being implemented in Ukraine, including the construction and major repair of roads and the modernization of regional airports.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the domestic market of air transportation in Ukraine does not meet all strategic needs of the state, so it was decided to create a national air carrier.
Its creation should provide citizens with affordable and convenient flights between Ukrainian regions, promote the decentralization of international air transportation and provide an impetus for the development of our country's tourism potential.
The President of Ukraine noted that this large-scale project already has the support of international partners. In particular, the French government initiated a grant to provide a consultant.
"We begin working. This year we want to get a competitive state-owned air carrier," Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the CEO of Aerogestion, noting that Ukraine is willing to consider ideas for the implementation of this project.
Marc Rochet, for his part, noted that the Ukrainian airline market is fragmented. In addition, it was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, there are opportunities to create a national airline.
"I really believe that air transport is perhaps the most relevant for Ukraine, for people, especially in times of crisis, it is necessary to be able to travel and have a normal life," said Marc Rochet.