The largest Ukrainian mining and metal company Metinvest plans to lease Berdiansk airport (Zaporizhia region) to transport its foreign specialists to Mariupol (Donetsk region) where two of its largest metal companies are located – Mariupol Illich Steel Works and Azovstal.

The company sent its proposal to Berdiansk Town Council. It was planned to discuss the leasing of the airport by Metinvest at a Thursday session of the council, however the issue was removed from the agenda.

Metinvest confirmed to Interfax-Ukraine that the company is still interested in leasing the airport.

"Despite the fact that the runway of the air field is in bad condition, Metinvest is ready to restore it to launch charter flights to carry specialists (including from Europe) to Mariupol. Specialists are needed to realize investment projects at Mariupol steel works," the company said.

Metinvest is a vertically integrated group of mining companies that manages assets in every link of the production chain, from iron ore and coke production to semi-finished and finished steel products and rolled metal piping, as well as the production of other goods with high added value.