Chisinau Airport is extremely in demand for the landing and takeoff of small aircraft. We are talking about private races – either of Moldovan citizens or of foreigners. They are small ships, weighing around two tons.
“During the concession period, there were situations when a fee of two thousand euros was charged for the landing of such an aircraft. While, for example, in Odessa, this fee was about 30 dollars. Obviously, these people were entering the Republic of Moldova and were outraged by the high price”, said the deputy head of the Chisinau International Airport.
Later, thanks to the intervention of the authorities, including the Competition Council, this fee was reduced to 1,000 euros, and now, as of March 28, the fee has been cancelled.
Advertisement It’s unfounded – it’s an abuse. Now, private flights pay according to tonnage, according to passengers, relative to the size of the aircraft. So you understand, these services were abusive services and they were such gross tricks, because it was 12 hours of accommodation, even though that customer did not need this service. That is, in order to prove that this cost was justified, some services were improperly included, which were not requested by the customers.
Author: Constantin Vozian, deputy head of Chisinau International Airport
The deputy head of the Chisinau International Airport is of the opinion that the problem creates a negative image of the Republic of Moldova, for the simple reason that aircraft owners come to the Republic of Moldova with noble intentions – to open businesses, to get in touch with business partners, for tourist purposes. “When I see that the business card of the Republic of Moldova, which is the Chisinau Airport, begs them from the first step and from the first second they landed, it’s not good,” he says.
In fact, any aircraft that lands, regardless of whether it is private or not, whether it is a scheduled or non-scheduled flight, is charged a fare corresponding to the maximum take-off mass. If then 2000 euros were paid, now 30, maybe 25 will be paid. Anyway, a fee is paid, because this aircraft is serviced.
Author: Constantin Vozian, deputy head of Chisinau International Airport
AGORA recalls that, starting in 2013, Chisinau International Airport came under the management of a company led by oligarch Ilan Șor, based on a public-private partnership contract. The Avia Invest company has committed to invest around 250 million euros in the modernization of the airport over the next 49 years.
In 2020, the Public Property Agency retroactively canceled the concession contract concluded with Avia Invest. In November 2022, the magistrates at the Chisinau Court of Appeal decide that the airport returns to state management. On the other hand, the concessionaire company says that the decision would be illegal, taken under political pressure, and states that it will appeal to the Supreme Court of Justice.
On March 27, based on an order of the Public Property Agency, the official takeover of the airport’s assets begins. Later, the president Maia Sandu would declare that during the 9 years of the concession, the state would have lost 1.6 billion lei.
