Due to difficulties from the Moldovan side, 4 El Al Sun D’Or flights to Chișinău, Moldova, are set to be canceled today. Attached is the text of the letter sent by El Al to the Civil Aviation Authority, and the flights that are going to be canceled today. The outbound flight to be canceled is marked in yellow. The return flight to be canceled is marked in blue.
Letter Text:
El Al Israel Airlines Ltd.
The Most at Home in the World
21st of Elul, 5785
14.9.25
To:
Civil Aviation Authority
Mr. Shmuel Zakai – Director of the Civil Aviation Authority
Dear Sir,
Subject: Scheduled Flights to Chișinău in September 2025
I am reaching out to you following numerous requests made by El Al to coordinate with the Moldovan CAA regarding the operation of the company’s flights to Chișinău during the month of September, requests that have not been answered to date.
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During September 2025, due to high demand, El Al approached the Moldovan CAA with a request to operate more frequent scheduled flights to Chișinău in September.
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The new letter received from the Moldovan CAA’s Ministry of Transport confirms El Al’s request and permits El Al to operate a total of 7 scheduled flights per week to Chișinău during September.
The coordinator for approvals expressed reservations and requested that El Al refrain from all aspects of scheduled flights to Chișinău for September. -
However, during August, the Moldovan CAA informed the company that it approves the new “extensive aviation” permit – 7 weekly flights instead of one daily flight – meaning this is not an update of an existing approval but a new approval.
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Furthermore, El Al finds it appropriate to update you that on Monday there were 4 scheduled flights operated by the company on the route from Ben Gurion to Chișinău (apparently not “Moldova Air”).
The company requested approval for 4 additional flights ahead of the holidays – between the dates 21.9.2025 and 1.10.2025 (a total of 8 additional flights for September).
Thus, there are a total of 36 flights during September (i.e., more than 4 scheduled flights per week, meaning more than one scheduled flight per day). -
During September, another request was made by the Moldovan CAA to El Al, in which the Moldovan CAA retracted the previous approval to operate during September, and only one flight requires approval in coordination with rights, and the matter was not received clearly – it was implied that more than 4 scheduled flights per week are permitted.
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As a result, El Al was forced, with no other choice, to reopen the coordination process with the Moldovan CAA, involving complex and irrelevant correspondence, where each flight requires individual approval and a renewed schedule with the Moldovan CAA.
The situation that has arisen – where there is no symmetry between Israel and the Moldovan CAA, which operates under regular licensing – forces El Al to announce that it will not be able to operate flights to Chișinău in September. -
It should be noted that the above prevents the company from offering all the classes it provides, which are offered in advance ticket sales. El Al was supposed to operate at least 6 flights during September, and given the conditions that have arisen, this cannot be realized – while the competing company operates dozens of flights.
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In light of the above, El Al requests the assistance of the CAA in reviewing the permits of all Moldovan CAA flights, until a comprehensive and fair solution is reached for the national carrier and to allow El Al to operate the route in an equitable and fair manner.
The company requests to meet with you urgently, to schedule an organized meeting before the end of the month, which will allow for a complete solution as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Hovav Ben David, Acting Chief Commercial Operations Officer
El Al Israel Airlines Ltd.
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