Chişinău International Airport

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Chişinău International Airport
Aeroportul Internaţional Chişinău

IATA: KIV – ICAO: LUKK
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator CIA
Location Chişinău
Elevation AMSL 122 m / 399 ft
Coordinates 46°55′39.88″N 28°55′51.52″E / 46.9277444, 28.9309778
Website http://www.airport.md/
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
08/26 3,590 11,779 Concrete

Chişinău International Airport (IATA: KIV, ICAO: LUKK) is a main international airport in Moldova, located near the capital city of Chişinău. The terminal built in the 1970s has a capacity of 1,200,000 passengers per year.

As there is no Cat II or III system, fog can temporarily disrupt flights, especially in the colder period between December and February.

Contents

[edit] Airlines

Five national companies are involved in passenger air transportation, namely: Air Moldova, Moldavian Airlines, Tandem Aero and Vichi. Aeriantur-M lost its operator's licence in January 2007 as a result of the accident in Iraq with its An-26.

Nobil Air and TEPavia-Trans are air taxi companies located in Chişinău. Nobil Air operates a Learjet 35a (ER-LGA), TET operates an Antonov 28 air plane (ER-AKO).

Among the national air companies, the biggest share of passenger transport market is held by the state airline Air Moldova, with around 45% carried, followed by Moldavian Airlines with 15%, other national companies taking 3% of the total number of passengers. The national airlines have a share of less than 70% of the market.

A number of foreign airlines have also been active on the passenger air transport market. These include Turkish Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Meridiana and Tarom. Such foreign airlines represent more than 30% of the total passenger traffic. The largest share of transports was held by Turkish Airlines with 14%, Austrian Airlines with 5% and Tarom with 2%.

[edit] Destinations

Chişinău International Airport
Chişinău International Airport

Cirrus, El Al, Malev and Rossiya do not operate flights but have code share on other airlines flights to Chişinău.

Belavia considered starting flights from Minsk in Summer 2007 season but did not start. Alitalia offered a weekly flight on Sundays from Milano—Malpensa in the computer reservation systems last summer but never operated. Baku, Munich, Sofia and Stockholm might become the next new destinations.

During the summer there are regular charter flights to Antalya, Bodrum, Burgas, Luxor, Sharm el Sheik and Varna.

As the number of scheduled airlines and aircraft serving Chişinău is limited, many unscheduled, business and private flights take place to Chişinău.

In 2009 civil aviation might be further liberalized which would bring more flights and cheaper prices.

[edit] Charter airlines and destinations

[edit] Airport statistics

Year Passengers Flights
1996 250.800 3.619
1997 283.000 4.718
1998 265.900 4.871
1999 233.300 4.613
2000 167.708 5.519
2001 274.387 9.866
2002 294.621 10.416
2003 341.585 9.502
2004 421.011 10.759
2005 482.741 11.126
2006 548.300 10.065
2007 688.800 11.623
2008 (1-4) 211.300  ?

[edit] Busy routes

[edit] Cargo and Mail

Year Cargo/Mail
2000 2.4
2001 1.7
2002 1.3
2003 1.3
2004 1.4
2005 1.7
2006 1.8
2007 1.8
2008 (1-4) 0.3

Figures are in thousand tons.

[edit] Facilities

Chisinau airport at night
Chisinau airport at night

The airport is open 24 hours a day.

Following reconstruction work by the Turkish company Akfen Holding A.S. and re-opening in May 2000 it became a modern airport in Europe and in the Commonwealth of Independent States.

An annex terminal building with an area of 4,270 m² was added to the renovated present terminal building of 7,600 m². The project covers construction of 3,000 m² curtain walls, 3,200 m² composite panels, 12,185 m² asphalt road, a treatment plant with a capacity of 3,450 m³/day, complete mechanical heating, ventilation and electrical systems along with the X-ray security, luggage handling, master clock, and flight information systems. The contract had a commercial value of $ 9.3 million.

The annual capacity of the airport has increased to 5,400,000 passengers. There are 10 check-in desks, 4 gates and 1 baggage reclaim belt.

Available facilities: short term parking spaces, one Airport Hotel, Bureau de Change, ATM, Cafeterias, Bars, Duty Free Shops, news agent, tobacconist, Gift Shop, Travel Agent, Tourist Help Desk, Car Rental, Taxi Service, First Aid, Baby/Parent Room, CD/DVD shop, flower shop, mobile phone shop

VIP and CIP guests are offered special services at the VIP terminal.

The visitors terrace in the second floor has been opened in December 2006 but closed due to security measures. There is also a sign remembering the first flight to Moldova on 24.06.1926 on the routes Bucuresti-Galati-Iasi and Chisinau.

Late 2006 the airport reorganized the passenger flow before check-in. So far passengers had to present their passport, the ticket and eventually their registration (which was abolished long before!). Passengers were allowed in the check in hall. With the introduction of e-tickets and the abolition of the registration for foreigners this was no longer useful. After the removal of the wall the check-in hall became remarkably bigger and customs control is now after check-in.

March 1, 2007 Moldova introduced the same new regulations for hand luggage which were enforced in the European Union on November 6, 2006.

[edit] To and from the airport

There is a bus and a mini-bus (rutiera) to the airport (aerogara). For example the rutiera line 165 is passing Botanica district and continuing to the city center. The 'AEROGARA' bus departs from Piata D. Cantemir and can be catched in the city center on the Stefan Cel Mare street and also stops at the central railway station 'GARA' bus station. It is a white livery bus operating with a 30 minute interval. The fares are paid to the bus conductor.

Taxis drive in 15-25 minutes to the airport. They charge between 70 and 80 lei ie. 10-12 euros. It is advisable to agree beforehand.

Arriving passengers can find authorized taxi (Taxi 1407, yellow cars) at the departure exit.

The airport is located at the mainway to the south.

[edit] See also

Aviation Portal

[edit] External links