From 2012, the prices of plane tickets will decrease by 30%-40%, while the quality of air transport services will increase. This will become possible following the signing by Moldova of the agreement on the creation of a Common Aviation Area with the EU on October 26. Prime Minister Vlad Filat said this agreement will enable the passengers to benefit from safer and more accessible air transport services from next year. There will be also opened more direct flights from Chisinau to other countries and vice versa, Info-Prim Neo reports. “At this stage, we can say that the quality and safety of the air transport services will increase as loyal competition always stimulated the improvement of the service quality. We expect that tourism will develop. Representatives of this industry repeatedly asked taking measures to decrease the prices of plane tickets. There will appear real preconditions for satisfying this demand and I’m sure that the results will become visible not long afterward,” the Premier said after the signing of the agreement. He also said that the restrictions concerning the destination, capacity and frequency will be lifted for the European companies that will operate flights from Moldova to the EU. A period of transition until 2017 was set for the Moldovan airlines that use Soviet-type aircraft. There are six such planes. The transition period for helicopters is until 2023. EU Energy and Transport Director Philip Burgel-Verne said the agreement was signed owing to the will proved by Moldova. He stressed the country will have to implement the EU legislation on air transport safety and management, environment protection and the observance of passengers’ rights. “It won’t be easy, but this will bring many benefits to Moldova,” said the European official. The agreement was signed after two months of negotiation. The talks were opened in July.