About MDL 93 mln will be allocated from the state budget to the “Air Moldova” company for buying airliners

The Law on state budget for 2006 will be amended, in order to assign MDL 93.1 mln to the State Administration of Civil Aviation for completing the statutory capital of the State Air Company “Air Moldova”. The Government approved, on Wednesday, October 25, such an initiative. According to Minister of Finance, Mihai Pop, the draft of amending the state budget for 2006 has been elaborated by the ministry after the Government’s indications to allocate financial sources for the renovation of company’s fleet. According to the provisions of the Development plan of the civil aviation of the R. of Moldova for 2005-2010, the strategy of the field is oriented towards expanding possibilities of utilizing passenger transportation services. The allocation of money from the state budget was decided in conformity with the limited financial possibilities of the company, which do not allow the acquisition of necessary number of aircrafts. At present, the fleet of Air Moldova is composed of 4 aircrafts, two of which are A320, an Embraer 120 and a YAK-40. The airline “Air Moldova” was founded via a presidential decree on January 12, 1993. In cooperation with the State Enterprise “Chisinau International Airport” a number of adjacent companies were created – “Sky Alliance” (a ticket-selling agency), “Aeroport-Catering” (catering passengers on board), “Aeroport Handling” (registering passengers, luggage, their delivery to the board of the aircrafts and the assistance of airplanes), “Aeroport-Petrol” (fueling aircrafts). Destinations to Amsterdam, Vienna, Lisbon, and Madrid were opened. When asked about how many planes could be bought with those MDL 93 mln allocated from the state budget, the financial director of the „Air Moldova” company, Victor Maleca, declared that this information is confidential. He also failed to tell the average price of an airplane.