Marculesti Airport will be modernized to serve both cargo and passenger flights
This is provided for by relevant amendments to the Law on the Marculesti International Free Airport, passed by the parliament in the first reading with the aim of creating optimal conditions for diversifying the airport infrastructure. The bill provides for the transfer of Marculesti Airport under the management of the state-owned Chisinau International Airport, which will allow for more effective coordination of activities and investments in the modernization of Marculesti Airport's infrastructure. According to preliminary estimates, investments of €4.2 million are needed for the Marculesti airport to be able to operate passenger flights. As noted by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, given the growing demand for air transport services, it is necessary to create all the necessary conditions to ensure access to the market for a larger number of budget airlines. The decision to reconstruct the Marculesti airport was described by the Ministry as an effective solution for diversifying the country's airports and developing the northern region. The Marculesti airport is located 150 km from Chisinau, and its runway allows it to accept passenger and cargo aircraft. Currently, the airport's economic activities include the following related activities: providing airport operator services by collecting airport charges; leasing the company's assets (land, hangars, office premises). Accordingly, the company's main source of income is leasing, rather than certified operational activities as an airfield operator. Given the infrastructure currently available at the airport, with state support and some investment, it will be possible to launch commercial passenger services and develop the cargo segment. Negotiations with interested airlines are already underway. According to preliminary estimates, the total cost of the measures necessary to start passenger air transport at Marculesti Airport is approximately €4.2 million (repair work on the runway, taxiways, aprons and aircraft parking areas, passenger terminal, aviation security system in the complex, and lighting system). Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Vladimir Bolea noted that Marculesti Airport has the potential to become a key point on the regional transport map with a clear prospect of transforming into a multimodal regional logistics hub (road, rail, air), strategically located on the extended TEN-T network corridor. The initial investment of €4.2 million will be made by Chisinau Airport from its own profits. // 20.06.2025 — InfoMarket
