Scandal in Chisinau: Air Moldova wants flights with Russia; the authorities have suspended air connections between Moldova and Russia amid the war in Ukraine.

On September 9, Air Moldova (Moldova's national company) announced the resumption of flights to Moscow, from October 1. This decision was motivated as a result of numerous requests from citizens of the Republic of Moldova, who are in the Russian Federation and want to return home.

Air Moldova also motivates the decision based on the requests received from passengers who have tickets purchased during the pandemic and want to use them.

"At the same time, the decision to resume flights is due to passengers' requests to use tickets purchased during the pandemic period and after the suspension of flights in February. These circumstances have created difficulties that hundreds of passengers face every day: the need to repeatedly purchase tickets at increased prices, the time spent traveling by land, the inconvenience of connecting flights, especially for medical emergencies."

It's just that the Civil Aeronautical Authority issued Operational Directive no. 06 of 10.09.2022, which prohibits the performance of air operations in the airspace of the Russian Federation by national air operators. Thus, Air Moldova Airline will not be able to operate flights to and from Moscow starting October 1, as previously announced. Air Moldova threatens the court if an agreement is not reached with the Civil Aeronautical Authority.

Now, taking into account the war in Ukraine and the European directives to stop any connection with Russia, what other interests does Air Moldova have in wanting to resume flights between Chisinau and Moscow at any cost?