newstodate.aero

Nov 01, 2022 (newstodate): Rising tensions in the region due to Russia's war on Ukraine is forcing the Hungarian LCC Wizz Air to close down its base in Moldova.
   The base at Chisinau Airport will close down from December 2022, leaving the airport with no Wizz Air aircraft and crews overnight stays, while the carrier will maintain traffic between Moldova and Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
   -Following a thorough risk assessment and considering the risks of closing the airspace in the Republic of Moldova, we have adjusted our 2022-2023 winter program from Chisinau to ensure that it can be operated on a sustained basis, a statement from Wizz Air reads.  
   -We remain committed to the Moldovan market and our customers. As soon as we have the stability and certainty, we will reopen the base.
    Wizz Air opened its base in Moldova in March 2017 as its 26th, allocating one Airbus A320 at Chisinau Airport to allow for more frequencies on existing flights on five existing routes as well as the opening of new routes.  
   Wizz Air first opened flights to Moldova in September 2013, becoming the first carrier to introduce low-cost operations in the market. The new Wizz Air base at Chisinau is the LCC's 26th base.  
   As late as in September 2022, Wizz Air was the 3rd largest operator at Chisinau Airport, averaging 11 daily arrivals and departures, and recovering some 92 percent of the traffic in 2019.