PHOTO // New air connection between Bucharest and Chisinau to be named after famed Romanian Olympic sportsman Ivan Patzaichin

The TAROM Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft named “Ivan Patzaichin” operated its inaugural flight today, October 3, on the Bucharest–Chisinau route, arriving at the Eugen Doga International Airport of the Moldovan capital. Deputy Prime Minister, Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Vladimir Bolea attended the inauguration ceremony.

The event brought together officials from Moldova and Romania, representatives of TAROM, members of the family of former Olympic champion Ivan Patzaichin and journalists from both countries.

Among the participants, there were Irinel Ionel Scriosteanu, State Secretary at Romania’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure; Mihail Mîțu, Moldova’s Ambassador to Romania; Cristian Anghel, TAROM’s Director General; Ivona Patzaichin-Rusu, a representative of the Ivan Patzaichin family; Mihai Covaliu, President of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee; and Sergiu Spoiala, administrator of Eugen Doga International Airport – Chisinau.

Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Bolea emphasized that the air link between Bucharest and Chisinau has a century-long history.

“This year, we are marking 100 years of civil aviation on the territory of today’s Moldova, while the first air links, inaugurated in June 1926, also connected us with Romania, via the Bucharest–Galati–Chisinau and Bucharest–Galati–Iasi routes. A century later, this connection remains important for families, businesspeople and everyone traveling between our countries,” Vladimir Bolea said.

According to the minister, developing air connections is necessary both for travel between Moldova and Romania and for providing passengers with access to other international destinations.

“We need stable flights, good services and more connection options to other destinations. We will continue working with air operators to develop these links for the benefit of passengers,” Vladimir Bolea added.

The Bucharest–Chisinau connection facilitates travel between the two countries for personal, business, and tourism purposes. At the same time, through the airport in Bucharest, passengers from Moldova have access to other international destinations.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft is named after Ivan Patzaichin, a multiple Olympic champion and one of the defining figures in Romanian sport. The presence of his family members at the ceremony in Chisinau paid tribute to the achievements of the great sportsman.

The inaugural flight took place on the same day that Moldova celebrates the National Wine Day and in the year marking the centenary of civil aviation on the territory of today’s Republic of Moldova.