Budapest –
Airline Wizz Air announced on Monday that it will suspend flights to Moldova’s capital Chisinau from March 14 due to airspace security concerns.
In a statement, Wizz Air said it planned additional flights from the Romanian city of Iasi to Berlin instead, including new services to Barcelona, Milan-Bergamo, Bologna, Rome Ciampino, Rome Fumicino, Dortumand, Larnaca said it plans to increase flights to London. Luton and Treviso.
The company said flights to Budapest and Prague would not be replaced and flights arriving in Chisinau would be reassigned to other destinations on the Wizz Air network.
“Passenger and crew safety remains Wizz Air’s top priority and following recent developments in Moldova and, although not imminent, increased risks in the country’s airspace, Wizz Air will suspend all flights to Chisinau. We have made the difficult but responsible decision to suspend the show on March 14.”
Moldova’s Foreign Minister Nyk Popescu said Wednesday that Moldova is preparing for “threats of all kinds” given that Russia may step up its attempts to destabilize the country, which is reeling from the war in neighboring Ukraine. said that
Tensions between Russia and Moldova have increased in recent months after Russian missiles aimed at Ukraine entered Moldovan airspace and officials accused the Kremlin of fomenting anti-government protests.
Moldova’s civil aviation authority said it had been notified of Wizz Air’s decision by email, adding that Wizz Air sought approval for its summer flight schedule on February 14 and received approval on Monday.
“After analyzing the risks, the government agency has determined that flights in the country’s airspace can be safely carried out by following a number of procedures and regrets Wizz Air’s sudden decision,” the Moldovan government official said. A post on the Telegram channel said.
The Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development said they were “constantly working” with Wizz Air representatives and informed them of the procedures to ensure aviation safety.
Aviation authorities plan to return Wizz Air to Chisinau airport as soon as possible and take “all necessary measures” to attract other low-cost carriers.
Reported by Gergely Szakacs and Alexander Tanas, written by Max Hunder and Elaine Monaghan. Edited by Jane Merriman and Barbara Lewis
