Moldova’s main and largest airport. Located 13 km to the south-east from the Chisinau city centre. According to Moldavian CAA statistics within the period of 2018, national and foreign air companies carried a total of 2 828 626 passengers. Most of the traffic consists of Chisinau based companies which are Air Moldova and Fly One (both represent Republic of Moldova) and Wizz Air who has a base with two airplanes here. Fleet of these carriers consists of Airbus A320 aircraft. There are no regular domestic flights in Moldova so absolute majority of the flights are international. Exception can be light aircraft like Cessna 152, operating KIV/LUKK runway for training purpose.

Other companies operating at Chisinau airport are: TAROM performing two or three courses a day on an ATR-42/72; Turkish Airlines using both Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 Family aircraft; Aeroflot; Lufthansa; Austrian Airlines; Belavia; Ukraine International Airlines and couple others like Arkia Israeli Airlines performing two courses a week. LOT – Polish Airlines normally use their Dash-8 Q400 aircraft to fly to Chisinau once or twice a day. Also there is an everyday cargo flight to Bucharest-Otopeni and back operated by Moldcargo company on a leased from Airest Saab 340F.

Online schedule can be found on the Chisinau International Airport website – www.airport.md

Written by Iurii Tolstik (Local spotter), last update: March 2020.

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runway
08/26	3,590m (11,778ft) – Concrete
09/27	2,383m (7,818ft) – Concrete (not active)
Spotting Information
Ladder	Generally no need for it.
Car/Public Transport	Not necessary but if you want to save your time and to walk less, you’d like to have one. Spotting point #1 is 2 km away from the closest bus stop.
Restrooms	Restrooms are only available in terminal building, which is far away from spotting places.
Drinks/Food	There are petrol stations next to #1 and #2.
Hotels	Most of the hotels are located in Chisinau, none of them within walking distance to the spotting points.
Season	Best seasons are late spring, summer and early autumn in terms of traffic, temperature and access to the spotting points. However it is possible to do aircraft spotting all year long.
Runway Usage
08/26	Main runway of Chisinau International Airport is RWY 08/26 – 3590 x 45 metres. Normally if there is no strong tailwind or any other significant weather conditions aircraft arriving from the west will prefer RWY 08 to land and RWY 26 to depart in western direction. Anyway final decision of runway in use depends on the ATC unit who takes in consideration all the factors.

	Spot #1 – Rwy08 Operations
WHERE	The best and most popular spotting position. Get the bus number 49 from Chisinau and exit on the first station entering Băcioi (Bachoy) village right after you pass approach light masts of RWY 08. Walking about 2 km from the bus station along airfield fence you’ll get to the point. The spot is located on the hill abeam of the touchdown zone of RWY 08. You can get right to the spotting position on a car but it can be a bit difficult depending on the condition of the dirt road.
WHAT	The location for RWY 08 arrivals and departures. It is possible to get pictures of aircraft approaching, touching ground and lining up for departure. Also you get the traffic departing from RWY 26 but aircraft might climb out too high depending on the take off run and the chosen line up position.
TIME	Late Morning until afternoon. Most of a day time it’ll be a good light with no backlit only in the summer mornings and evenings.
MISC.	Walking along the runway you can get slightly different composition for your photos.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-300mm

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	Spot #2 – Rwy 26 Operations
WHERE	Second most popular place for spotting. Get the bus number 33 or trolleybus number 31 and exit on the on the first station after passing Chisinau International Airport, near the petrol station. Go up the hill towards approach light masts of RWY 26, the spot is located right next to them. You can get right to the spotting position driving a car down the dirt road on the entry to Sîngera village
WHAT	The location for RWY 26 arrivals. You’ll catch aircraft in-flight on short final.
TIME	Late morning until afternoon. Most of a day time it’ll be a good light with no backlit only in the summer mornings and evenings.
MISC.	Also you get the traffic departing from RWY 08 but aircraft might climb out too high depending on the take off run and the chosen line up position.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-300mm

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	Spot #3 – Rwy 09 Operations
WHERE	Spot is located towards runway 09 centreline. Get a trolleybus number 30 or a bus number 33 or 44 and exit on the station near “Linella” supermarket. Walking about 1,5 km you’ll get to the point. To walk less you can get closer to the place driving a car. You’ll stand alongside airfield fence so the ladder might be needed.
WHAT	The location is good to shot aircraft taxiing. You’ll get a side view of aircraft on taxiway C and front or rear view of aircraft on taxiway D (RWY 09).
TIME	Afternoon till evening you have no backlit for aircraft on taxiway C and morning until evening for everything else.
MISC.	When the runway 09/27 is used for take off and landing operations it is possible to get close up pictures of aircraft arriving and departing.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-300mm

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Don’t missed the opportunity to catch the magnificent Tupolev 134 of Air Moldova registered ER-65036 (see below picture & mentioned on the above map).