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Flights to Moldova: delays, cancellations and your rights

Chișinău International is Moldova’s only airport in Eurostat’s 2024 data on routes within Europe. Flights to Moldova from the EU, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland or the UK are covered by EU261 or UK261 whatever the airline; flights from Moldova are covered by EU261 only when they land in the EU, Norway, Iceland or Switzerland on an airline licensed in one of those countries, and by UK261 only when they land in the UK on a UK or EU airline (in both cases not if you received benefits or compensation and assistance under local rules). Moldova has its own compensation rules, with €250–€600 for arrival delays of 3 hours or more.

By the EU261 Flight Delay editorial team Last reviewed: How we write our guides

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In short: Flying to Moldova from elsewhere in Europe, a delay of 3 hours or more is worth €250–€400 per passenger on typical routes (EU261, any airline); from the UK £220 under UK261. On the way home you are covered only on an EU airline (into the EU) or a UK or EU airline (into the UK). Local rules may help on airlines from there.

Your rights each way

DirectionRulesCovered airlines3h+ delay / late cancellation
Another EU/EEA country or Switzerland → MoldovaEU261any airline€250–€400
Moldova → another EU/EEA country or SwitzerlandEU261only an EU airline€250–€400
UK → MoldovaUK261any airline£220
Moldova → UKUK261only a UK or EU airline£220
Outside Europe → Moldovanone––

Amounts are per passenger and depend on the great-circle distance between your airports – the ranges cover the busiest routes. Whatever the cause, from 2 hours’ delay the airline must provide meals and drinks, and a hotel if you are stuck overnight – where EU261 or UK261 applies.

Local rules: Passenger rights in Moldova are set by the Regulation on compensation and assistance for passengers in the event of denied boarding, cancellation or long delay, approved by Government Decision No. 836 of 8 November 2012. According to the Civil Aviation Authority, a passenger who reaches the final destination at least 3 hours late is entitled, unless there were extraordinary circumstances, to €250 (under 1,500 km), €400 (1,500–3,500 km) or €600 (over 3,500 km); claims about cancellations, long delays or denied boarding are reviewed only if submitted within 2 years of the scheduled flight date.

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What happened?Step 1 of 4

What happened to your flight?
Where did you fly from and to?

With a connection, enter your first departure and your final destination – compensation is based on the total distance.

How late did you arrive at your final destination?

What counts is when the aircraft doors opened at your destination – not the departure delay.

When were you told about the cancellation?
When did you arrive on the replacement flight?
Which airline operated the flight?
When was the flight?

How many passengers were on the booking?

1 passenger

Every passenger gets their own compensation, children too. Infants under 2 without their own seat do not count.

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Airports in Moldova

AirportPassengers 2024*ATFM delay per arrival 2025Main cause
Chișinău (RMO)2,215,6690.00 min–

* Passengers on routes reported to Eurostat (both directions).

Busiest European routes

Why flights to Moldova are delayed

In 2025, air traffic flow restrictions held back arrivals at Moldova’s airports by 0.00 minutes per flight on average (EUROCONTROL, 1 airports). The worst month was Jan.

Causes of air traffic flow delay (2025)

    Average ATFM delay per arrival by month (min)

    1. J
    2. F
    3. M
    4. A
    5. M
    6. J
    7. J
    8. A
    9. S
    10. O
    11. N
    12. D

    Weather and air traffic control restrictions are usually extraordinary circumstances – but the airline must show they caused your delay. Check what happened on your travel day.

    Strikes

    No strikes affecting flights in Moldova are announced in our calendar at the moment.

    Strike calendar

    Where to complain

    1. The airline first – in writing, with your booking reference. Use our complaint letter generator.
    2. Authority: Civil Aviation Authority of the Republic of Moldova (Autoritatea Aeronautică Civilă) – A petition to the CAA is accepted only after you have complained to the airline and the complaint was not resolved within the 14-day period set by law; proof of that earlier complaint is required. The CAA also has an online form for a preliminary request to its Dispute Resolution Council..
    3. From the UK: if you flew from a UK airport or with a UK airline, you can also use UK ADR, the CAA or the small claims court.

    Tips for flying to Moldova

    • Keep proof of your complaint to the airline: the CAA will not examine a petition without it.
    • Claim within 2 years of the scheduled flight date – the CAA says older claims are not reviewed.
    • Chișinău had almost no arrival flow-control delay in EUROCONTROL’s 2024–2025 data, so if your flight was badly delayed, ask the airline in writing for the specific reason.

    Frequently asked questions

    Am I covered on a flight to Moldova?

    From anywhere in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, yes: EU261 covers every departing flight, whatever the airline – €250–€400 per passenger on typical routes if you arrive 3 hours or more late. From the UK, UK261 covers every departing flight (£220). From outside Europe you are covered by neither rule.

    Am I covered on the flight home from Moldova?

    Flights from Moldova into the EU are covered by EU261 only on an EU airline, and into the UK by UK261 only on a UK or EU airline. With a Moldova airline you are not covered by EU261 or UK261.

    Passenger rights in Moldova are set by the Regulation on compensation and assistance for passengers in the event of denied boarding, cancellation or long delay, approved by Government Decision No. 836 of 8 November 2012. According to the Civil Aviation Authority, a passenger who reaches the final destination at least 3 hours late is entitled, unless there were extraordinary circumstances, to €250 (under 1,500 km), €400 (1,500–3,500 km) or €600 (over 3,500 km); claims about cancellations, long delays or denied boarding are reviewed only if submitted within 2 years of the scheduled flight date.

    Who enforces passenger rights in Moldova?

    Civil Aviation Authority of the Republic of Moldova (Autoritatea Aeronautică Civilă) – A petition to the CAA is accepted only after you have complained to the airline and the complaint was not resolved within the 14-day period set by law; proof of that earlier complaint is required. The CAA also has an online form for a preliminary request to its Dispute Resolution Council.. Complain to the airline first; if it rejects you or does not answer, you can turn to this body. All national enforcement bodies.

    Are strikes covered?

    It depends whose staff are on strike. Air traffic control or airport strikes are usually extraordinary circumstances; strikes by the airline’s own staff are not (CJEU C-28/20). See strikes and compensation.

    Data: Eurostat 2024, EUROCONTROL, UK Civil Aviation Authority 2025. Information only, not legal advice.

    Sources

    1. Passenger rights – Civil Aviation Authority of the Republic of Moldova
    2. Is the flight delayed? – Civil Aviation Authority of the Republic of Moldova
    3. Method of submission and resolution of complaints – Civil Aviation Authority of the Republic of Moldova
    4. Hotărârea Guvernului nr. 836 din 08.11.2012 (Regulation on compensation and assistance for passengers) – legis.md
    5. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 – full text (Article 3: scope; recital 15: air traffic management decisions) – EUR-Lex
    6. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 as it applies in the UK (UK261) – Article 3, scope – legislation.gov.uk
    7. UK flight punctuality statistics 2025 (flights by destination from UK airports) – UK Civil Aviation Authority
    8. Airport arrival ATFM (flow-control) delay data, 2024–2025 – EUROCONTROL Aviation Intelligence Unit
    9. Air passenger transport by reporting airport (avia_par), 2024 – Eurostat
    10. Eurostat – air passenger transport routes between partner airports and main airports (2024) – Eurostat
    11. EUROCONTROL – airport arrival ATFM delays (open performance data) – EUROCONTROL
    12. UK flight punctuality statistics 2025 – UK Civil Aviation Authority

    We check every rule against the sources above. Spotted an error? Tell us – see our editorial policy.