Record aviation growth and the impact of the situation in Ukraine

Chișinău Airport ranks in the top 10 in Europe due to the impact of Ukrainians

Chișinău Airport in the capital of the Republic of Moldova has seen a remarkable increase in passenger numbers, doubling its traffic in just one year. In 2024, the airport served 4.1 million passengers, an increase of 46% compared to the previous year, propelling it to the top of Europe's most successful airports in the category of those with annual traffic between 1 and 10 million passengers. Additionally, the airport ranked second in the Airports Council International (ACI) Europe efficiency ranking, with a profit of 17.7 million euros.

The beginning of 2025 continued this positive trend, with a 62% increase in passenger numbers in January compared to the same month the previous year, and in February the increase was 50.2%. An important aspect of this growth has been Ukrainian citizens, who make up almost a third of the airport's total passengers. This growth has been significantly influenced by the war in Ukraine, which has turned Chișinău into an important transit hub for Ukrainians.

Chișinău Airport has become an essential departure point for Ukrainian citizens seeking to travel to Europe. Furthermore, Ukrainian airlines such as SkyUp have established operational bases in Chișinău, leading to an increase in flights and available destinations. Increased competition has also forced Moldovan airlines to reduce ticket prices, which has benefited passengers and contributed to the growth of traffic.

As the number of passengers continues to grow, the authorities in the Republic of Moldova are working on expanding the airport's capacity and improving infrastructure. One of the major projects is the merger of Chișinău Airport with Mărculești Airport to help manage the large passenger flow and ensure sustainable development of the airport in the long term.