Chisinau International Airport, Marculesti International Airport to merge, both terminals to be extended

The Public Property Agency (PPA), as founder of the Chisinau International Airport (CIA) and Marculesti International Airport,  today informed about the initiation of an extensive merger and development project for these two state enterprises.

The initiative aims to create a modern and efficient airport system capable of meeting the needs of passengers nationwide and in its vicinity, and to withstand market fluctuations in critical moments. CIA will expand its passenger terminal, simultaneously relying on best practices, aiming to eliminate the financial losses of Marculesti International Airport as a distinct entity, with the management of activities of both airports to be centrally coordinated from the Chisinau Airport.

The process of absorbing Marculesti International Airport by CIA will start in February 2025, following the development by PPA of a package of decision documents and their approval by the government. This endeavor aims at the functional and administrative integration of the two airports, in order to expand the operational capacity of a new entity. The first civil commercial flights from Marculesti Airport are expected by the end of 2025, simultaneously considering the development of cargo services at this airport.

Chisinau International Airport, which has been the main air terminal of the country so far, recorded a significant financial profit in 2024, with over 4 million passengers served, reaching historic performance levels. From this record profit, PPA recommends injecting direct investments into the development of both terminals, primarily for the expansion and modernization of the passenger terminal at CIA, subsequently for the rehabilitation of the infrastructure of the Marculesti International Airport. Forecasts for 2025, following these investments, estimate an increase in passenger flow to 5 million, which will further consolidate the financial sustainability of the enterprise.

In parallel, the extension works of the terminal in Chisinau will begin in March 2025 and will be completed in August 2025. These will include expanding the arrivals hall to manage a larger passenger flow, modernizing the baggage sorting and processing system to optimize waiting time, and extending the departure hall by introducing advanced digital solutions, such as self-check-in and modern passport control technologies.


"All these measures were much expecrted by passengers at CIA. The new developments will allow the airport to handle a record number of passengers annually, significantly improving their comfort and safety. Importantly here, this year, the Chisinau airport successfully implemented the CAT III system for landing in low visibility conditions, a high aviation safety standard, found exclusively in fortified airports, even at the European Union level," PPA said.


Rehabilitation of the runway and adaptation of the terminal for operating summer charter flights will be carried out at Marculesti International Airport. These investments will position Marculesti as an important center for air transport and cargo services in the region. The expansion of the infrastructure will contribute to reducing seasonal congestion at Chisinau Airport and will facilitate access to air transport for residents in the north of the country, while simultaneously stimulating tourism and trade.