UIA supports continuation of Air Express project

KYIV. April 2 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine International Airlines (UIA, Kyiv) supports the continuation of the Air Express project on creating a high-speed passenger rail service between Kyiv-Pasazhyrsky railway station and Boryspil International Airport.

"Air Express is convenient. The project should not be closed. It should be finished," UIA President Yuriy Miroshnykov said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday.

Miroshnykov also expressed hope that the Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry will make a decision on the project and return to its realization.

The Air Express national project is funded by China EximBank. The total loan amounts to $372 million. The loan will be issued in two tranches.

The first tranche of $52 million was released in 2013 and was aimed at design and preparatory work. The second tranche of $320 million will be used for the construction of infrastructure.

The State Agency for Investment and National Projects Management reported that the rail link between Kyiv and Boryspil airport – the Air Express project – will go to the airport through an underground tunnel.

The construction of the tunnel was scheduled to be finished in the first quarter of 2015.

Acting Deputy Director General for Operations at Boryspil airport Anton Borysiuk said in December 2014 that it is unlikely that the initial stages of the Air Express project would have created high passenger demand.

"The project I saw two years ago when the State Agency for Investment and National Projects was realizing it, would not have been of great demand, as the important part of the express is a convenient way of reaching the airport with the smallest number of changes of transport in the shortest period of time… I think that a couple of express, comfortable shuttle buses from a couple of subway lines would have settled the problem," he said.

Borysiuk said that experts should consider whether the project is economically viable, if investment could be paid back, and if there is a market for the project.