Kyiv airports: are they open, and how to get to Kyiv right now
Plan your journey to Kyiv via European transport hubs.
Looking for a flight to Kyiv but can’t find any options to Boryspil (KBP) or Zhuliany (IEV)? Regular passenger flights to Kyiv have not operated since 24 February 2022, and Ukraine’s airspace remains closed to civil aviation. If you’re wondering whether it’s safe to travel to Ukraine right now, read our guide.
For now, getting to Kyiv usually means flying to another European country and completing the journey overland by train, bus or car. Visit Kyiv explains where you can fly, how to plan the onward journey to Kyiv and what to check before booking your flight.
Are Kyiv’s airports open?
Not for regular passenger flights.
Ukraine’s airspace remains closed to civil aviation, so you cannot currently book a commercial flight directly to Kyiv.
Kyiv’s airports continue to maintain their infrastructure and prepare for the possibility of flights resuming in the future.
Use our free travel checklist to go through the essentials before you leave — entry requirements, budget, accommodation, transport, safety and more.
Which airports serve Kyiv?
Before Ukraine’s airspace closed, Kyiv was served by two main passenger airports.
Boryspil International Airport (KBP)
Boryspil (KBP) is Kyiv’s main international airport. It is located outside the city, in Kyiv Region.
There are currently no regular passenger flights to or from Boryspil.
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Kyiv International Airport (Zhuliany) (IEV)
Kyiv International Airport (Zhuliany), or IEV, is located within the city.
There are currently no regular passenger flights to or from Zhuliany.
Antonov Airport in Hostomel is not a passenger airport and cannot be used as an alternative for travelling to Kyiv.
Where should you fly to get to Kyiv?
With no direct passenger flights to Ukraine, the usual option is to fly to another European city and travel overland to Kyiv from there.
Cities worth considering include Warsaw, Kraków, Rzeszów, Budapest, Chișinău, Vienna, Košice and Iași.
For Kyiv, these are some of the main routes to consider:
| Where to fly | How to get to Kyiv | Detailed guide |
|---|---|---|
| Poland — Warsaw, Kraków, Rzeszów | Train, bus or car. Rail connections to Ukraine are available via Chełm and Przemyśl | How to get from Poland to Kyiv |
| Budapest, Hungary (BUD) | Direct train to Kyiv, international bus or car | How to get from Budapest to Kyiv |
| Chișinău, Moldova (RMO) | Direct train to Kyiv, international bus or car | How to get from Chișinău to Kyiv |
If these options don’t work for your budget or schedule, consider Vienna, Košice, Iași or another European transport hub. You’ll find more options in our guide to getting to Kyiv in 2026.
How do you choose the best route?
Don’t compare flights by price alone. Before booking, look at the entire journey:
your departure city → airport → railway or bus station → train or bus → border → Kyiv
Check:
- what time your flight arrives;
- how long it takes to get from the airport to the railway or bus station;
- when your train or bus leaves;
- how much time you have between connections;
- the total journey time;
- entry requirements for the country you are travelling through;
- entry requirements for Ukraine.
A cheaper flight can easily turn into a longer or more expensive journey. If you land late in the evening, for example, you may have to wait until the next day for a suitable train or bus.
A useful rule: check your onward connection to Kyiv before booking your flight.
How can you travel to Kyiv overland?
Once you arrive in another country, you can travel to Kyiv by train, international bus or car.
By train
Kyiv can be reached by direct international trains as well as routes involving connections.
Direct trains run to Kyiv from Budapest and Chișinău. From Poland, rail options include routes via Chełm and Przemyśl.
Timetables can change, so check your rail connection before booking your flight, especially if you plan to travel onwards on the same day.
If your train arrives at Kyiv-Pasazhyrskyi, Kyiv’s main railway station, see our guide to Kyiv Central Railway Station. It covers practical details including how to get into the city, luggage services, waiting areas and what to do during an air raid alert.
By bus
An international bus can be a useful alternative if there is no convenient train, rail tickets are sold out, or you find a direct service to Kyiv.
Depending on the route, you may also be able to travel directly from the airport without first going to a railway or bus station. Check the exact departure point before booking, as well as where the bus will drop you off in Kyiv.
Kyiv has several bus stations, while some operators use their own stops around the city. See our guide to Kyiv’s bus stations to find out where you’ll arrive and how to get to your next destination.
By car
You can enter Ukraine by car through international border crossings that are currently open.
Before setting off, check the documents required for the driver and vehicle, insurance requirements, the current status of your chosen border crossing and possible queues.
If you’re renting a car outside Ukraine, check with the rental company whether you’re allowed to take it across the Ukrainian border. Cross-border restrictions vary between rental companies.
You should also check the visa and entry requirements for Ukraine before travelling.
What should you know if you’re travelling through the Schengen Area?
If you fly to a country such as Poland or Hungary, leave the airport and continue to Ukraine by train, bus or car, you need to meet the entry requirements for the Schengen Area.
Before booking, check:
- whether you can enter the country where your flight lands;
- whether you need a Schengen visa;
- whether you have the documents required to enter Ukraine afterwards.
If you need to leave the airport’s international transit area to catch a train or bus or continue by car, check the country’s entry requirements, not just its airport transit rules.
When will flights to Kyiv resume?
There is currently no confirmed date for regular passenger flights to Kyiv to resume.
Kyiv’s airports are preparing for the possibility of reopening, but no date has been set for Ukraine’s airspace to reopen or for regular passenger flights to restart.
For now, plan your trip on the assumption that you will need to travel part of the way to Kyiv overland through another country.
Questions and answers about Kyiv airports
No, Kyiv airport is currently closed to civilian flights. As of early 2026, the entire Ukrainian airspace remains closed for safety reasons. Both Boryspil International (KBP) and Igor Sikorsky Kyiv (Zhuliany/IEV) are not operating passenger services.
There is no official date for when Kyiv airport will reopen. While the government has presented a roadmap for a phased opening of airspace potentially starting with Lviv, a final decision depends on the security situation and air defense capabilities. Current estimates suggest most civilian flights will remain grounded until the war ends.
The official Kyiv airport status is “suspended.” While terminals are being maintained and modernization projects (such as those with South Korea’s KOICA) are in progress to ensure a quick restart, no commercial take-offs or landings are permitted at this time.
There are no airports in Kyiv currently operating civilian flights. Travelers are advised to fly into neighboring countries like Poland (Warsaw or Lublin), Moldova (Chișinău), or Hungary (Budapest) and continue to Kyiv by direct international train or bus.
