Kiev’s Boryspil airport this year returned to profit with an increase in passenger numbers by 5% over the first nine months of the year, compared to the same period last year. 

The airport saw 5.6 million people pass through it over the first three quarters.

Boryspil’s profit over the period was 467 million hryvnia (€18 million), compared to a 44.5 million (€1.77 million) loss over the same period last year.

The Director of the capital’s airport, Yevhen Dykhne, said the turnaround was down to big changes in the airport’s expenses and an improvement in the type and quality of its services. He recently told a Ukrainian newspaper that the airport has plans to increase passenger numbers further over the coming year with a target of approximately 7%.

He added that the loss of purchasing power within the local market due to the economy and currency collapse, has forced the airport to becoming a transit hub in the search for new business.

Boryspil is Ukraine’s largest airport with two runways and four passenger terminals.