Chisinau International Airport should be granted to concession

The Chisinau International Airport should be granted to concession for 30-50 years, said a lawmaker of the Moldovan Democratic Party, Adrian Candu.

He said that the concession is a least-evil solution, as neither the state, nor the owners of the Chisinau Airport have financial resources and possibilities to adjust the airdrome to the international norms and requirements.

«The decision to grant the airport to concession should be taken not because of its poor management and administration, but because the state does not have enough money to invest in the development of this asset,» said Candu.

In his words, the international investor that accepts the concession conditions will have to settle some topical issues: the reconstruction of the runway system, the creation of modern cargo and passenger terminals, the arrangement of a modern parking lot and the construction of a hotel.

The lawmaker said that investors who have experience in this field and are able to attract enough proceeds for the reconstruction of this asset in order to significantly enhance the efficiency of the airport, will have the possibility to use the concession.

Candu also spoke about the fact that the state-run company Air Moldova, who was trying to operate flights to 14 directions, with the help of only several airplanes, undergoes a similar situation as the one of the Chisinau International Airport.

«The company is also on the brink of bankruptcy. I am wondering how this company manages to service so many flight routes. The enterprise has debts to airports and to its international partners,» said the lawmaker, noting that the company has two ways-out – either bankruptcy or privatization.

Candu said that the air transport sector implies high risks that cannot be born even by large-scale companies, which often go bankrupt, merge with other companies or a granted to concession.

Adapted from Infotag