Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan believes that the largest airline in Ukraine – Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) – is behind the refusal of the largest European low cost airline Ryanair to come to the Ukrainian market over the alleged violation of the contract by the Kyiv-based Boryspil International Airport state-owned enterprise.

"Maiberg [Head of the UIA supervisory board Aron Maiberg] and Riabikin (Boryspil airport head Pavlo Riabikin] could open champagne," the minister said on his Facebook page, posting a report that Ryanair cancels the planned Ukraine services.

He also said in comments that "UIA cannot order the country what to do and repay for low-quality services."

As reported, Ryanair late on Monday, July 10, announced that it has cancelled its planned entry into Ukraine following Boryspil airport's failure to honor a growth agreement reached at the Ministry of Infrastructure with the airport officials and Airport Director General Pavlo Riabikin in March of this year.

"On behalf of Ukrainian visitors and consumers, we regret that Kyiv airport has demonstrated that Ukraine is not yet a sufficiently mature or reliable business location to invest valuable Ryanair aircraft capacity… We regret also that Lviv airport has fallen victim to Kyiv airport's decision," Ryanair Chief Commercial Officer David O'Brien said.

Regrettably, Kyiv airport has instead chosen to protect high fare airlines (including Ukraine International Airlines) and deprive Ukrainian consumers and visitors of access to Europe's lowest air fares and widest route network. As a result, Ryanair has no choice but to cancel four new Kyiv routes and seven new Lviv routes, he said.