Warum kreiste ein Willkommensflugzeug über Lviv: Was ist bekannt und bereitet sich der Flughafen auf die Wiedereröffnung vor?

Das Willkommensflugzeug über Lviv hat eine Welle von Fragen und Hoffnungen auf die Wiederaufnahme des Flugverkehrs ausgelöst. Erfahren Sie, was wirklich passiert ist, was das Ministerium für Entwicklung sagt und wann der Flughafen möglicherweise wieder in Betrieb gehen könnte.

Sorgen Sie für eine zuverlässige Versicherung für einen sicheren Eintritt und Aufenthalt in der Ukraine

KAUFEN

In April, Ukrainians were massively tracking the flight of a Welcome plane that appeared in the sky over Lviv. We explain in the article below whether this is a signal of the resumption of air travel from Ukraine.

Welcome in the sky over Lviv: what happened?

On April 22, 2025, more than 6,000 users simultaneously tracked the movement of an aircraft with the call sign Welcome on Flightradar24. This made it the most tracked flight in the world at the time. Without identification markings, without a registration number, but with a bright route, the plane made several circles over Lviv, passed by Rivne and Ivano-Frankivsk, and eventually returned to the Lviv sky, after which it disappeared from the radar.

Welcome's flight over Ukraine became not only a newsworthy event, but also a source of hope - many took it as a sign of a possible return of civil aviation, even though Ukrainian airspace has been officially closed since February 2022.

Official story: air navigation equipment inspection

The Ministry of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine has officially explained the situation: the Welcome flight was part of a program of flight and ground checks of air navigation equipment. This is a standard procedure that is carried out to maintain the certification suitability of air navigation facilities.

“This has nothing to do with preparations for the resumption of flights,” the agency emphasized in its response to Forbes Ukraine.

It is clarified that such inspections are carried out periodically and can take place in different regions of Ukraine, regardless of the security situation or plans to open airports.

Don't want to miss important updates and useful articles? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!

But can Lviv Airport resume operations?

Despite the government's official position, interest in the possible reopening of Lviv Airport is not fading. Back in March of this year, Danylo Halytskyi Lviv International Airport CEO Tetiana Romanovska said in an interview with a local media outlet that under favorable circumstances, flights could resume in April or May.

This idea is also supported by some international partners. For example, Crispin Ellison, a senior partner at Marsh McLennan, said at the end of 2024 that it would be easier to resume flights from Lviv than from Kyiv because it would be easier to provide the necessary risk insurance mechanisms.

“Lviv is much safer than Tel Aviv,” Ellison emphasized, referring to the comparative stability of the western region of Ukraine.

What does this mean for passengers?

While there is no official talk of resuming regular flights, the very fact that air navigation equipment has been checked indicates that the airports are technically ready. If the security situation changes, the reopening of Lviv Airport could be the first step towards the return of commercial aviation to Ukraine.

Those who are already planning to travel in Ukraine or abroad should take care of tickets, itineraries, and insurance in advance. This can be done conveniently through the Visit Ukraine portal, which offers a ticket booking system for bus, rail and air travel both within Ukraine and abroad.

For those returning to Ukraine or traveling during martial law, it is critical to have health insurance covering war risks. Visit Ukraine also offers the appropriate insurance - fast online registration, protection in case of emergencies, 24/7 support.

Travel comfortably and safely with Visit Ukraine!

We remind you! Traveling to Ukraine by train is a convenient and safe way to travel, even in the face of modern challenges. International trains run from various European cities to Ukraine, making traveling comfortable and affordable. Read more about routes, schedules and ticket features for traveling to Ukraine by train in our previous article.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

We recommend purchasing it for a safe and comfortable trip to Ukraine: 

Visit Ukraine Insurance – insurance covering military risks for entry and travel in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Car Insurance – car insurance with extended coverage in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Legal Advice – comprehensive legal support on entry to Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tickets – bus and train tickets to/from Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tours – the largest online database of tours to Ukraine for every taste;

Visit Ukraine Hotels – hotels for a comfortable stay in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Merch – patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.

© 2018-2025, Visit Ukraine. Use, copying or reprinting of materials on this site is permitted only with a link (hyperlink for online publications) to Visit Ukraine.

All rights reserved.