Moldavian Airlines charter flight to Antalya to be authorized

The State Civil Aviation Administration will authorize Moldavian Airlines’ charter flight to Antalya scheduled for May 5. The information was confirmed by the state institution’s acting head Iurie Zidu. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, Iurie Zidu said that the State Civil Aviation Administration cannot authorize more than one charter flight a month, for destinations to which there are regular flights. He stressed that Moldavian Airlines knows the regulations, but intentionally provokes conflicts. Several days ago, the president of Moldavian Airlines Nicolae Petrov told a news conference that the tickets for the May 5 flight were already sold and the plane will take off even if the flight is not authorized. Petrov accused the Ministry of Transport of obstructing competition on the air traffic market by favoring the state-run company Air Moldova. In a news conference the next day, Transport Minister Anatol Salaru denied the accusations, saying the Ministry does not have a special interest in a certain company. He said the memorandum signed with Turkey allows operating only regular flights to Antalya. He added that effort is made for Moldova to become part of the European airspace. That’s why it is not the right time to negotiate the liberalization of the market with Turkey separately.