Due to difficulties from the Moldovan side, 4 El Al Sundor 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.
Home Away from Home
21 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 for coordination with the Moldovan Civil Aviation Authority concerning 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 Civil Aviation Authority with a request to operate more regular flights to Chișinău in September.
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The new letter received from the Moldovan Civil Aviation Authority confirms El Al’s request and permits El Al to operate a total of 7 regular flights per week to Chișinău during September.
The coordinator for approvals expressed reservations and requested that El Al avoid all aspects of regular flights to Chișinău for September. -
However, during August, the Moldovan Civil Aviation Authority informed the company that it approves the authorization given for “New Extensive Aviation” – 7 weekly flights and not one daily flight – meaning it is not an update of an existing approval but a new authorization.
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Moreover, El Al finds it appropriate to update you that on Monday there were 4 regular flights of the company operating the route from Ben Gurion Airport to Chișinău (apparently not “Moldova Air”).
The company requested approval for 4 additional flights ahead of the holidays – between the dates of 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 regular flights per week, indicating more than one regular flight each day). -
During September, another request was made by the Moldovan Civil Aviation Authority to El Al, where the Moldovan Civil Aviation Authority 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 – and it was implied that more than 4 regular flights per week.
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As a result, El Al was forced to reopen the coordination process with the Moldovan Civil Aviation Authority, amid complex and irrelevant correspondence, where each flight requires individual approval and a renewed schedule with the Moldovan Civil Aviation Authority.
The situation that has arisen – where there is no symmetry between Israel and the Moldovan Civil Aviation Authority, which operates under a regular license – 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 offers 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 aforementioned, El Al requests your assistance from the Moldovan Civil Aviation Authority in examining the permits of all Moldovan Civil Aviation Authority flights, until a comprehensive and fair solution is found 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 full solution, as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Hovav Ben David, Acting Chief Commercial Operations Officer
El Al Israel Airlines Ltd.
