Flying in and out of Ukraine
Ukraine's primary international airport is Kyiv Boryspil (Kiev Borispol), with over 50 international destinations. All other airports in Ukraine offer no more than a dozen international destinations. You can browse existing flights at the KiyAvia site.
Ukrainian cities with airports:
Kiev*
Kharkov
Dnepropetrovsk
Donetsk
Odessa |
Zaporizhya
Lviv
Mariupol
Lugansk
Chernivtsi |
Ivano-Frankivsk
Simferopol
Uzhhorod |
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| *Kiev has two airports — Boryspil (international flights) and Zhuliany (domestic flights) |
Prices for domestic flights used to be quite low by western standards, but have now caught up. For example, one can fly from Kiev to most cities around Ukraine for $60-120 USD. Rates are for one-way tickets, and return tickets are bought separately. Here is a complete list of prices.
Unfortunately, discount carriers like RyanAir do not have any flights to Ukraine. However, there are currently busy assimilating Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary, so it's possible that in a couple years there will be discount connections between Ukraine and European capitals.
Where to buy plane tickets in Ukraine
Tickets can be bought at KiyAvia offices around Ukraine (English speaking representatives are available) and booked online at their English-language website.
Supposedly you can order over the phone and have tickets delivered to your office or apartment.
I do not know whether the price of international plane tickets differs if you buy them through KiyAvia as opposed to the airline company itself. Here is a list of all international airline offices in Kiev.
Kyiv Boryspil airport
This is the airport that most international visitors fly through on their way to Ukraine. It is located about 15 km from the southeast edge of Kiev and the nearest metro station ("Boryspilska"), and 40 km from the city center. The airport has a reasonably priced hotel and is in the process of expansion.
Buses to Boryspil airport
I recommend using the comfortable and convenient "Polit" buses that travel from the Kiev train station to Boryspil and back every 20-30 minutes 24 hours a day. Late at night (between 23:00 and 6:00) the bus runs about every hour. Fare is 20 UAH ($4 USD) one way; advance reservation is not possible.
The bus starts in front of the southern train station (the new building), has a 5-minute stop next to Ploscha Peremohy ("Victory Square") at a place that's hard to find, and then stops just outside of Kharkivska metro station on its way to Boryspil. The total driving time is from 50 minutes if there's no traffic to 1 hour 20 minutes in bad traffic. The bus waits directly in front of the right exit of the airport terminal, so it's easy to find. Buses have a baggage compartment.
Taking a taxi to and from Boryspil airport
As you get off the plane and enter the airport commons area, expect to be assaulted by taxi drivers asking up to 200 UAH ($40 USD) for a taxi ride into Kiev. If you're a hard bargainer, you may get the price down to as low as 80 UAH, but it's better to have someone meet you with a car or take the Polit bus. | 
