Chișinău Airport: New Terminal Planned for Passenger Boom
Moldovan authorities predict a significant rise in passenger traffic at Chișinău International Airport over the next five years, exceeding the capacity of the current terminal.
This surge necessitates the construction of a new terminal, according to Andrei Spînu, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development. The minister spoke during a broadcast on TVR Moldova.
Spînu anticipates that Chișinău International Airport could set a record for passenger numbers this year itself. He stated, "We're looking at 3.2 to 3.4 million passengers, and the current terminal is already showing signs of strain during peak arrival and departure times. As a government, we must act swiftly to construct a new terminal."
A feasibility study encompassing the new terminal's construction, parking expansion, and other infrastructural improvements at the airport is planned for this year. "We are hopeful that by year's end, we will have this comprehensive feasibility study that addresses all concerns. Based on the pre-feasibility study, the entire project is estimated to cost between 200 and 300 million euros," Spînu further explained.
Authorities forecast that passenger traffic through Chișinău International Airport will surpass five million within the next five years. "One thing is certain: the airport will remain under state ownership for the foreseeable future. The law has also been amended to prevent the privatisation of this critical infrastructure," Spînu emphasised.
The feasibility study for the new terminal, car park extension, and runway rehabilitation at Chișinău International Airport will be conducted with the support of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group.
Chișinău International Airport has been included in the list of non-privatized assets. An amendment to the Draft Law on Amending the Law on the Application of International Restrictive Measures, proposed by Radu Marian, Chair of the Moldovan Parliament's Economy, Budget and Finance Committee, was passed in two readings by 55 deputies. The legislative initiative also grants the Public Property Agency (APP) the authority to resolve any challenges encountered during the tender process for selecting commercial spaces for public catering and retail within the airport's sterile area.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
