PHOTO // Moldova and Romania marked centenary of civil aviation by symbolically recreating Bucharest–Chișinău route

Eugen Doga Chișinău International Airport hosted the first part of the program dedicated to the Centenary of Civil Aviation, an event that brought together representatives of public authorities, the aviation sector and partner institutions from the Republic of Moldova and Romania.

Attending the event, Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Bolea highlighted the symbolic and historical importance of the first commercial flights that connected Bucharest, Iași and Chișinău. He stressed that the symbolic recreation of the Bucharest–Chișinău air route, operated at 7:25 a.m., marks a century since the first air links between the two capitals.

"Today we have symbolically recreated the Bucharest–Chișinău air route, exactly along the path that, a century ago, opened the first commercial connections between these cities. On the centenary of the first commercial flight that linked Bucharest and Chișinău, I congratulate all employees in the civil aviation sector of the Republic of Moldova for their contribution to the development of a sector that is vital for the country’s connectivity and prosperity," said Bolea.

The official underlined that the Republic of Moldova and Romania continue to develop joint infrastructure projects, from bridges and highways to modern railways, expressing gratitude to the Romanian partners for their constant support. 

Ambassador of Romania to the Republic of Moldova Cristian-Leon Țurcanu recalled that in 1921 Romania invested nine million lei in aviation for a "rapid service for the transport of passengers, mail and parcels within the country", with the aim of building three airports: in Băneasa, Galați and Chișinău. Three years later, on 24 June 1926, the first civil flight took place, connecting by air the largest Romanian cities of that time: Bucharest and Chișinău.

"Today we continue to build together, in Bucharest and Chișinău, interconnection infrastructure and economic development projects – so that people can be and feel close to each other at all times. This is the best way to ensure that our Strategic Partnership remains citizen-oriented – by investing together, with vision, in our common and prosperous future. Happy Civil Aviation Day to all workers in the civil aviation field!" declared the Romanian ambassador.

During the ceremony, a commemorative plaque dedicated to the Centenary of Civil Aviation was unveiled, as a symbol of a century of evolution in air transport and of its role in bringing closer the communities on both banks of the Prut River.

Another important moment of the event was the launch of a joint postage stamp issue dedicated to the anniversary, produced by the postal institutions of the Republic of Moldova and Romania.

The event was also attended by State Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of Romania Ionel Scrioșteanu, as well as by Director General of the National Company Romanian Post Florin Valentin Ștefan.

The anniversary program will continue at Iași Airport, where a ceremony dedicated to the Centenary of Civil Aviation in Romania will take place, with the participation of Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Bolea and Romanian transport officials. The event will include the unveiling of a commemorative plaque, a thematic exhibition on the evolution of commercial aviation and an air show offered by the Romanian Aeroclub.

According to the authorities, starting from 2026, Civil Aviation Day will be marked on 24 June, in recognition of the first commercial and postal flight on the Bucharest–Galați–Iași–Chișinău route in 1926. Until 2025, it was celebrated on 19 September.