Authorities support only one airline, Travel Agencies Association president

The liberalization of the air transport market in Moldova is obstructed as the authorities promote the development of only one airline, namely Air Moldova. When other airlines are issued with licenses, they have to cooperate with Air Moldova, where the prices are set by the state, Sebastian Botnari, president of the National Association of Travel Agencies of Moldova, has told Info-Prim Neo. “The problem resides in the fact that the authorities support only one airline that dictates the prices in Moldova. It is unacceptable for a ticket on the charter route Iasi-Antalya to cost €130, while in Chisinau – €250,” said Sebastian Botnari. He also said that Air Moldova recently opened another charter route, to Greece. The price of a ticket is €280 even if the Greek authorities lifted all the airport fees in the country. The problems faced by the travel agencies and tour operators were discussed in a meeting called by Deputy Prime Minister Valeriu Lazar.