Chisinau Airport greets its five-millionth passenger with music
Five million passengers have passed through Eugen Doga International Airport since the beginning of the year. The record was celebrated with the landing of Monica Racila, who was the five millionth passenger. Settled in France for two decades, she returned home on Friday and was greeted with music and gifts. The airport administration says this increase in passenger numbers highlights the need for expansion work at the airport.
“Three! Two! One! Applause and congratulations for the five millionth passenger!”
Monica Racila came to the Republic of Moldova to visit her grandmother. The young woman did not expect to be greeted at the airport in this way.
“I heard music and said to myself that it is not for me. And I hear: five, four, three! And I enter like this. I have been working in France for many years and I try to come here as often as possible, to my relatives. They gave me two free tickets to travel with whomever I want. I am still emotional,” the passenger said.
According to the airport administration, this figure represents not only significant progress, but also a challenge. Chisinau’s Eugen Doga Airport is among the European airports with the highest growth in passenger traffic.
"We are trying to maintain this growth at least, but at the same time, we are aware that this infrastructure is not large and limited. Accordingly, in the nearest future, we have a development plan for this objective", mentions the airport director, Sergiu Spoială.
Chisinau Airport is soon entering a new stage of development. The passenger terminal expansion project, worth over 700 million lei, will be fully financed from the airport's own revenues. Construction works are set to begin this year, immediately after the winner of the public tender is selected, and the project is expected to be completed by the end of next year.
