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 | |||||||||||||||
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Summary | |||||||||||||||
Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||
Operator | Chișinău International Airport Company | ||||||||||||||
Serves | Chișinău | ||||||||||||||
Location | Chișinău, Moldova | ||||||||||||||
Opened | 1960 | ||||||||||||||
Hub for | |||||||||||||||
Focus city for | |||||||||||||||
Elevation AMSL | 399 ft / 122 m | ||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 46°55′40″N 028°55′51″E | ||||||||||||||
Website | airport.md | ||||||||||||||
Map | |||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() KIV Location in Moldova | |||||||||||||||
Runways | |||||||||||||||
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Statistics (2019) | |||||||||||||||
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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.
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 closed temporarily on the 24th of February 2022, as Moldovan airspace was closed in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[5] As of 05 May 2022, the airport has reopened.
There are plans to enlarge the airport.[6] 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.[7]
There were ten check-in desks and five gates at the airport in 2009.[8] 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.[9]
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.[10] The following airlines offer regular scheduled and charter flights at Chișinău International Airport.
Year | Passengers (total)[2][34][35] | Change | Aircraft movements (total)[2][36] | Change | Cargo (tonnes)[2] | Change |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | 254,178 | N/A | 9,521 | N/A | 2,400 | |
2001 | 274,662 | ![]() |
9,866 | ![]() |
1,700 | |
2002 | 296,431 | ![]() |
10,416 | ![]() |
1,300 | |
2003 | 341,695 | ![]() |
9,502 | ![]() |
1,300 | |
2004 | 421,011 | ![]() |
10,759 | ![]() |
1,400 | |
2005 | 482,741 | ![]() |
11,126 | ![]() |
1,700 | |
2006 | 548,331 | ![]() |
10,065 | ![]() |
1,800 | |
2007 | 688,782 | ![]() |
11,623 | ![]() |
2,300 | |
2008 | 847,881 | ![]() |
12,935 | ![]() |
2,468.8 | |
2009 | 808,096 | ![]() |
12,355 | ![]() |
2,033.2 | ![]() |
2010 | 937,030 | ![]() |
13,751 | ![]() |
2,399.2 | ![]() |
2011 | 1,046,086 | ![]() |
15,022 | ![]() |
2,666.2 | ![]() |
2012 | 1,220,506 | ![]() |
16,113 | ![]() |
2,765.4 | ![]() |
2013 | 1,321,236 | ![]() |
16,858 | ![]() |
2,951.8 | ![]() |
2014 | 1,781,166 | ![]() |
19,756 | ![]() |
2,923.5 | ![]() |
2015 | 2,226,441 | ![]() |
22,468 | ![]() |
2,891.8 | ![]() |
2016 | 2,206,266 | ![]() |
22,033 | ![]() |
2,774.3 | ![]() |
2017 | 2,744,465 | ![]() |
27,113 | ![]() |
3,488.7 | ![]() |
2018 | 2,828,626 | ![]() |
27,949 | ![]() |
4,186.6 | ![]() |
2019 | 2,995,530 | ![]() |
27,092 | ![]() |
3,767.7 | ![]() |
Rank | City | Airport(s) | Weekly Departures (29 October 2022)[37] |
Airlines |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | ![]() |
Istanbul Airport | 26 | Air Moldova Turkish Airlines |
2. | ![]() |
Henri Coandă International Airport | 17 | TAROM Air Moldova |
3. | ![]() |
Dublin Airport | 11 | Air Moldova HiSky FlyOne |
4. | ![]() |
London Luton Airport London Stansted Airport |
11 | Air Moldova FlyOne Wizz Air |
5. | ![]() |
Verona Airport | 10 | Wizz Air FlyOne Air Moldova |
6. | ![]() |
Vienna International Airport | 10 | Austrian Airlines Wizz Air |
7. | ![]() |
Charles de Gaulle Airport Paris Beauvais |
9 | Air Moldova Wizz Air HiSky FlyOne |
8. | ![]() |
Ben Gurion Airport | 9 | Air Moldova HiSky Wizz Air |
9. | ![]() |
Warsaw Chopin Airport Warsaw Modlin Airport |
8 | Air Moldova LOT Polish Airlines |
10. | ![]() |
Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport | 8 | Air Moldova ITA Airways |
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 6 MDL, which is 0.31 EUR or 0.31 USD as of September 2022.[39][40] 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.
Media related to Chișinău International Airport at Wikimedia Commons
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