Chișinău International Airport

Chișinău International Airport (IATA: KIV, ICAO: LUKK) is Moldova's main international airport, located 13 km (8.1 mi) southeast of the centre of Chișinău, the capital city.[1] It serves as headquarters for Air Moldova, the country's national airline. The IATA airport code KIV is derived from Kishinev (the Russian and former English name of the city).

Chișinău International Airport

Aeroportul Internațional Chișinău
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorChișinău International Airport Company
ServesChișinău
LocationChișinău, Moldova
Opened1960
Hub for
Focus city for
Elevation AMSL399 ft / 122 m
Coordinates46°55′40″N 028°55′51″E
Websiteairport.md
Map
KIV
Location in Moldova
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
08/26 3,590 11,778 Concrete
09/27 2,383 7,818 Concrete
Statistics (2019)
Passengers2,995,530
Aircraft movements27,092
Sources: Moldavian AIP at Eurocontrol,[1] statistics[2]

History

Early years

The first scheduled flights to Chișinău started on 24 June 1926, on the route Bucharest–Galați–Chișinău and Iași. The flights were operated by CFRNA, later LARES.[3] A commemorative plaque, describing the first flight to Chișinău, was placed in the airport.

The main terminal was built in the 1970s, with a capacity of 1,200,000 passengers per year.

Development since the 1990s
Interior of the airport after reconstruction

On 31 May 1995, Chișinău Airport was awarded the status of an international airport.

In 2002, following works by the Turkish company Akfen Holding, the airport was modernised. An annex terminal building with an area of 4,270 m2 (46,000 sq ft) was added to the renovated old terminal building of 7,600 m2 (82,000 sq ft). The project covered the construction of 3,000 m2 (32,000 sq ft) curtain walls, 3,200 m2 (34,000 sq ft) composite panels, 12,185 m2 (131,160 sq ft) asphalt road, a treatment plant with a capacity of 3,450 m3 (122,000 cu ft) a day, complete mechanical heating, ventilation and electrical systems, along with the X-ray security, luggage handling, master clock, and flight information systems. The annual capacity of the airport had increased to 5.4 million passengers.[4]

Chișinău International Airport is a member of Airports Council International.

The airport has been closed since the 24th of February 2022, as Moldovan airspace was closed in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[5] As of 11. of March 2022, the airport remains closed to all but a select number of flights, such as repositioning, post delivery, humanitarian, repatriation and medical emergency flights.[6]

Future plans

There are plans to enlarge the airport.[7] The project involves a €19 million loan to Chișinău International Airport for the rehabilitation and upgrade of the existing runway, taxiways, aprons, and ramps, engineering works, safety equipment and other connected core assets of Chișinău International Airport. The European Investment Bank ('EIB') is considering co-financing alongside the EBRD for up to an equal amount.[8]

Facilities

There were ten check-in desks and five gates at the airport in 2009.[9] VIP and CIP guests are offered special services at the VIP terminal. A visitors' terrace on the second floor opened in December 2006.

Previously passengers had to present their passport, ticket and their registration (of foreigners – which used to be required). Passengers were allowed in the check-in hall. With the introduction of e-tickets and the abolition of the registration for foreigners, the airport reorganised in late 2006. This resulted in a bigger check-in hall and customs control is now after check-in.

Towards the end of 2017, plans for a second runway were unveiled. This runway would take the place of the current taxiway just north of the existing runway. The project began in early 2017. Runway 09–27 started operations on 13 September 2018.[10]

Airlines and destinations

The following airlines offer regular scheduled and charter flights at Chișinău International Airport.
On 22 March 2022, The Civil Aviation Authority of Moldova partially reopened the country's airspace after being closed since 24 February 2022 after growing concerns amid the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Regular operations have since resumed at Chișinău Airport.[11]

AirlinesDestinations
Aeroflot Moscow–Sheremetyevo (suspended)
Air Moldova Beauvais, Bologna, Dublin, Düsseldorf,[12] Frankfurt, Istanbul, Lisbon, London–Stansted, Milan–Malpensa, Moscow–Domodedovo (suspended), Rome–Fiumicino, Saint Petersburg (suspended), Tel Aviv, Verona
Seasonal: Thessaloniki
Austrian Airlines Vienna
FlyOne Dublin, Hahn, Istanbul, Lisbon, London–Luton,[13] Moscow–Vnukovo (suspended), Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Parma, Tel Aviv,[14] Verona, Yerevan (begins 1 June 2022)[15]
Seasonal: Amsterdam (begins 18 June 2022),[16] Barcelona (begins 18 June 2022),[17] Batumi (begins 3 June 2022),[18] Brussels (begins 16 June 2022),[19] Düsseldorf (begins 18 June 2022),[20] Kyiv–Boryspil,[21] Nice (begins 18 June 2022),[22] Saint Petersburg (suspended)[14]
Seasonal charter: Antalya,[23] Bodrum,[23] Corfu,[24] Heraklion,[23] İzmir,[23] Rhodes,[25] Sharm El Sheikh[23]
HiSky Beauvais, Bergamo, Dublin, Frankfurt, Moscow–Vnukovo (suspended), Tel Aviv[26]
LOT Polish Airlines Warsaw–Chopin
Pegasus Airlines Seasonal: Antalya
TAROM Bucharest
Turkish Airlines Istanbul
Ukraine International Airlines Kyiv–Boryspil (suspended)
Wizz Air Barcelona, Basel/Mulhouse, Beauvais, Bergamo, Berlin, Bologna, Budapest,[27] Charleroi, Dortmund, Eindhoven, Hamburg, Larnaca, Liverpool, London–Luton, Memmingen, Prague, Rome–Fiumicino, Treviso, Turin, Verona, Vienna (all resume from 2 May 2022)

Statistics
Aerial view of the airport
Central commercial area
The Presidential Band of the Republic of Moldova at the airport during Joe Biden's state visit to Moldova.

Traffic
Annual passenger traffic at KIV airport. See source Wikidata query.
Year Passengers (total)[2][28][29] Change Aircraft movements (total)[2][30] Change Cargo (tonnes)[2] Change
2000 254,178 N/A 9,521 N/A 2,400
2001 274,662 8.0% 9,866 3.6% 1,700
2002 296,431 7.9% 10,416 5.5% 1,300
2003 341,695 15.2% 9,502 8.7% 1,300
2004 421,011 23.2% 10,759 13.2% 1,400
2005 482,741 14.6% 11,126 3.4% 1,700
2006 548,331 13.5% 10,065 9.5% 1,800
2007 688,782 25.6% 11,623 15.4% 2,300
2008 847,881 23.1% 12,935 11.3% 2,468.8
2009 808,096 4.7% 12,355 4.5% 2,033.2 17.6%
2010 937,030 15.9% 13,751 11.3% 2,399.2 18.0%
2011 1,046,086 11.6% 15,022 9.2% 2,666.2 11.1%
2012 1,220,506 16.7% 16,113 7.3% 2,765.4 3.7%
2013 1,321,236 8.2% 16,858 4.6% 2,951.8 6.7%
2014 1,781,166 34.8% 19,756 17.2% 2,923.5 0.9%
2015 2,226,441 25.0% 22,468 13.7% 2,891.8 1.1%
2016 2,206,266 0.9% 22,033 1.9% 2,774.3 4.1%
2017 2,744,465 24.4% 27,113 23.1% 3,488.7 25.7%
2018 2,828,626 3.1% 27,949 3.1% 4,186.6 20.0%
2019 2,995,530 5.9% 27,092 3.0% 3,767.7 10.0%

Routes
Busiest international routes at Chișinău Airport by weekly flights
Rank City Airport(s) Weekly Departures
(December 2019)[31]		 Airlines
1. Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport
Moscow Domodedovo Airport
Vnukovo International Airport		 54 Aeroflot
Air Moldova
FlyOne
2. Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport 25 TAROM
3. Istanbul Istanbul Airport 18 Air Moldova, Turkish Airlines
4. London Luton Airport
London Southend Airport
London Stansted Airport		 18 Wizz Air
FlyOne
Air Moldova
5. Vienna Vienna International Airport 12 Air Moldova, Austrian Airlines
6. Frankfurt Frankfurt Airport 11 Air Moldova
Lufthansa
7. Rome Fiumicino Airport
Ciampino Airport		 11 Air Moldova
Wizz Air
8. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
Paris Beauvais		 10 Air Moldova
Wizz Air
FlyOne
9. Milan Milan Malpensa Airport
Orio al Serio International Airport		 9 Air Moldova
Wizz Air
10. Venice Venice Marco Polo Airport
Treviso Airport		 9 Wizz Air

Other facilities

Ground transportation
Trolleybus number 30 in front of the terminal

There are bus and trolleybus lines and rutierele frequently departing from the airport (aerogara). Rutieră line 165 passes through the Botanica district and continues to the city center. The 'AEROGARA' bus departs from Piața D. Cantemir and has intermediate stops in the city center on Stefan Cel Mare street. It also stops at the central railway station 'GARA' bus station.

A trolleybus with the route 30 operates with a 20-minute interval from June 2017. A single-ride ticket costs 2 MDL, which is 0.09 EUR or 0.1 USD as of July 2021.[33][34] This is different from rutierele, which may stop at any time, given the driver is notified a few seconds prior. The nearest railway station is Revaca.

See also

References
  1. "EAD Basic - Error Page". Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  2. Statistică şi indicatori at caa.md
  3. Airline companies in Rumania (1918–1945)
  4. Chișinău International Airport at azworldairports.com
  5. "Chisinau Airport". Chisinau Airport. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  6. "Chisinau Airport". Chisinau Airport. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  7. "Error 404". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  8. "All Press Releases". 16 March 2015. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  9. About Chisinau International Airport Archived 2009-07-07 at the Wayback Machine at booking.md
  10. "LIVE! Evenimentul de deschidere oficială a noii piste de aterizare/decolare a Aeroportului Chişinău". Realitatea Live!. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  11. "Chisinau Airport".
  12. "Air Moldova va zbura din martie 2022 din Chișinău spre Dusseldorf". 20 December 2021.
  13. flyone.eu retrieved 28 March 2021
  14. "Moldova's FlyOne to enter Asia with Tel Aviv flights". ch-aviation.com. 6 January 2020.
  15. "FLYONE | Cheap flights from Chisinau".
  16. "FLYONE va opera șapte rute noi din Chișinău în vara anului 2022". 15 December 2021.
  17. "FLYONE va opera șapte rute noi din Chișinău în vara anului 2022". 15 December 2021.
  18. "FLYONE va opera șapte rute noi din Chișinău în vara anului 2022". 15 December 2021.
  19. "FLYONE va opera șapte rute noi din Chișinău în vara anului 2022". 15 December 2021.
  20. "FLYONE va opera șapte rute noi din Chișinău în vara anului 2022". 15 December 2021.
  21. "FLYONE va opera șapte rute noi din Chișinău în vara anului 2022". 15 December 2021.
  22. "FLYONE va opera șapte rute noi din Chișinău în vara anului 2022". 15 December 2021.
  23. "Flight Schedules and Airline Availability". tez-tour.com.
  24. "Un singur oraș – două continente! FLYONE lansează zborurile spre Istanbul, de la 39 EURO!".
  25. "Un singur oraș – două continente! FLYONE lansează zborurile spre Istanbul, de la 39 EURO!".
  26. "HiSky - Companie aeriană, cu zboruri regulate și charter din Republica Moldova și România".
  27. "Moldova fővárosába indít járatot Budapestről a Wizz Air". 14 January 2022.
  28. European Airport Traffic Trends at anna.aero
  29. "Anker-report.com EATS-European Airport Traffic Statistics". The Anker Report.
  30. In 2013 Chisinau International Airport carried a record number of passengers Archived 2016-06-25 at the Wayback Machine at airport.md
  31. "AIRPORT". www.airport.md.
  32. "Contacts Archived 2012-03-25 at the Wayback Machine." Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved on 4 November 2011. "Postal address: Republica Moldova, Chisinau, Aeroport, MD-2026"
  33. "Loading". rtec.md. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
  34. "Loading". rtec.md. Retrieved 2021-08-02.

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