Air Moldova canceled three flights on Wednesday, and passengers complained of lack of communication in advance. The situation has become a common one in recent weeks, with the company already cancelling dozens of flights.
Aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (AAC) , that is aware of the developments , informs it is monitoring the current situation of Air Moldova after the air operator canceled several flights.
The Civil Aviation Authority has announced that if the company doesn't come out of its financial problems and will not replace itself with a fleet of aircraft sufficient to provide the services in which they have engaged, it risks being suspended the Air Operator's Certificate.
Last month Air Moldova had released a statement saying.
In the context of all public statements and pronouncements of the authorities regarding the situation of Air Moldova, we are forced to conclude that we have become the target of a premeditated denigration campaign aimed at bankrupting the company.
As Air Moldova was forced to temporarily return the 2 aircraft from its fleet to the lessor, which led to flight cancellations in March, we became the subject of a public execution
According to AAC, "the reason for the cancellation of the flights is the precarious financial situation of the air operator and the impossibility of paying for the services provided by third parties.
Chișinău International Airport based carrier explained on Wednesday, through a press release, that its accounts have been blocked and it cannot pay for the provision of services to the State Enterprise Chisinau International Airport, the contracted aircraft and the fuel supply.
The Carrier also blamed Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for a portion of its troubles, It had said,
"Although Air Moldova is in a difficult situation, without its own aircrafts since March, the company was conditioned by the bank to increase the deposit amount to guarantee the reimbursement of unused tickets, which means that Air Moldova does not collect a large part of the money as a result of online sales, thus forming a deficit of funds necessary for the company's activity."
"Air Moldova has asked the bank to review the established conditions, which would allow the use of a part of the deposit amount to pay the providers, especially for the next two weeks given the increased flow of passengers due to the Easter holidays. The bank refused the company's request," explains Air Moldova.
Air Moldova also saw a campaign against it, and has appealed to the state in this regard,
"We are witnessing a clearly orchestrated campaign of kneeling in front of external partners and denigration in front of passengers of a NATIONAL air carrier, a PRIVATE ECONOMIC AGENT, one of the largest tax payers in the country (tens of millions of lei annually) without having debts to the state budget."
"We plead with the authorities of this state, if they are unable to provide at least advisory support, to refrain from creating panic among the population by launching speculations that only lower the air carrier's resilience."
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) claims to closely monitor the current situation of Air Moldova and reiterates that passengers whose flights have been cancelled can call the Consumer Telephone – (022) 823583 or claim their rights by accessing this link.
"We encourage passengers who are stranded at airports to seek assistance from the air operator that has the obligation to provide passengers with accommodation and food until rerouting options have been identified to their final destination," the AAC exhortation reads.
