Petru Jardan, general manager of Avia Invest, says that since his company took over the management of the Chisinau International Airport (AIC) 2 years ago, the passenger flow and the income have increased considerably and the company has paid taxes of over 70 million lei, nearly twice as much as before, IPN reports.
In the first 7 months of 2015, the passenger flow has reached 1.2 million people, 35% more than in the same period of the previous year. Jardan says that this growth has been remarked by Airports Council International Europe, according to which AIC is a leader among airports with capacities under 5 million passengers. AIC's growth of 34% has been clearly above the 5% European average in this category. Moreover, AIC was declared the “Airport with the most dynamic development” in the Commonwealth of Independent States.
According to Jardan, the frequency of flights between Chisinau and Moscow (Sheremetyevo) will be increased from winter onwards. Meanwhile, the company Pobeda has shown an interest in operating Chisinau-Moscow flights from the Vnukovo airport. There are even several European companies, including Spain's Vueling Airlines, interested in launching new routes from Chisinau. Europe's largest low-cost company, Wizz Air, will operate new flights to Bologna Guglielmo Marconi, from September 30, and to London Luton Airport, from October 27. Volotea will operate Chisinau-Verona flights beginning on December 18.
The Avia Invest manager has stressed that after proclaiming its independence, Moldova has invested about $10 billion in modernizing the airport, while his company has invested $8 billion in 2 years. Currently, the extension works of the terminal (arrivals, departures, baggage) are nearly complete. This will double the airport's servicing capacity to 750 passengers per hour. The number of check-in windows will be increased from 12 to 18, the number of passport control points will be doubled and a third baggage conveyor will be added. The project's cost is 9 million euros.
The 3590 meters long runway's width will be expanded from 45 meters to 60 meters, which will cost 15 million euros. Meanwhile, the repair of the old runway, unused for 20 years, is underway. It will be used as a driveway.
After the planned works are completed, the Chisinau International Airport will be able to service all kinds of aircraft, without any restrictions, and manage a traffic of 21 airships per hour.
