Two Turkish Air Force A400M Military Aircraft Reported At Kyiv Airport. The Government Should Now Bring Them Home And Then Turkish Airlines Should Re-Start Operations At KBP As It Does At VKO.

Two Turkish Air Force Airbus A400M Military Transport Aircraft Remain At Kyiv Airport.  The Government Should Now Bring Them Home And Then Turkish Airlines Should Re-Start Operations At KBP As It Does At VKO. 

According to media reporting, during the evening of 24 February 2022, two Turkish Air Force Airbus A400M military transport aircraft (registration numbers 17-0080 and 18-0093) landed at Boryspil International Airport (KBP) in Kyiv, Ukraine.  That same evening the airspace in Ukraine was closed following the attack into the territory of Ukraine by the armed forces of the Russian Federation.  The two aircraft were grounded and reportedly remain on the tarmac in the military zone in the northeast area of the airport.  According to other media reporting, on 31 March 2022, two Turkish Air Force Airbus A400M military transport aircraft arrived to KBP.  The aircraft were believed to have delivered Baykar Bayraktar TB2 Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV). 

The government of Turkiye should request an assurance from the government of the Russian Federation that on a specific date and time the two A400M military transport aircraft will have authorization to depart KBP to Turkiye. 

Given that Turkish Airlines is operationally controlled (with a 49.12% shareholding) by the government of Turkiye and has continued since 24 February 2022 to operate commercial passenger flights, with a practical monopoly as few international air carriers are operating within the Russian Federation, from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Vnukovo International Airport (VKO) in the capital, Moscow, which benefits the government and citizens of the Russian Federation, now is appropriate for Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Turkiye, to require from Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, authorization for Turkish Airlines to operate commercial passenger flights from IST to KBP using the most direct route through the airspace of Ukraine. 

Nonsensical for the government of Turkiye to permit the continued benefit to the government of the Russian Federation of Turkish Airlines services- five (5) daily non-stop flights from IST to VKO and eleven (11) flights listed as connecting to VKO from the capital, Ankara (ESB), and from the tourist resort area of Antalya (AYT) using Airbus 320 aircraft, Airbus 330 aircraft, and Boeing 777 aircraft.   

The flights from IST to VKO also substantially benefit the shareholders of Turkish Airlines as ticket prices from IST to VKO have increased 100% or more since 24 February 2022. 

Prior to 24 February 2022, Turkish Airlines operated as up to three (3) flights per day from IST to KBP in Ukraine.  

The government of Turkiye has a responsibility to request the government of the Russian Federation authorize the safe operation of Turkish Airlines within Ukraine.  The capitals of each country in the war, Moscow, and Ukraine, should have their respective airports fully operational.   

If the government of the Russian Federation refuses to authorize Turkish Airlines to operate flights within Ukraine, then Turkish Airlines should eliminate or reduce its operations within the Russian Federation.  There should be parity.  There should be reciprocity.  There should be a quid pro quo. 

What President Erdogan requires from governments seeking engagement with the citizens of Turkiye, he should require of governments benefiting from engagement with the citizens of Turkiye.  

A400M Background 

On 5 April 2022: “The Turkish Air Force completed its fleet with the delivery of its tenth A400M military transport aircraft, which was part of a larger order for ten A400Ms.  “Our 10th and last aircraft produced for the Air Force Command within the scope of the TSK’s A400M Project, in which we are partners in the design and production for tactical transport missions, has also entered the inventory,” said President of Presidency Defense Industry İsmail Demir.” 

“The Airbus A400M has a range of 3,295 kilometers with 37 tons of cargo, 4,535 kilometers with 30 tons of cargo, and 6,400 kilometers with 20 tons of cargo, with a maximum mission altitude of 11,300 meters (37,000 feet) for standard missions and 12,200 meters (40,000 feet) for special missions.  The aircraft’s range during an empty flight is 8,700 kilometers.  The aircraft’s operational range can be extended using its air refueling capability.  The aircraft, which can be utilized for tactical and logistics tasks, can be transformed into a tanker aircraft with an internal fuel carrying capacity of 50.5 tons that can refill aircraft and helicopters with refueling probes within 48 hours.”