Moldovan flag carrier Air Moldova (9U/MLD) announced the suspension of all flights and ticket sales as of May 2, 2023. The airline will now enter a period of ‘expedited restructuring’ following public criticism from Moldova’s Civil Aeronautic Authority (CAA). Despite this, the airline remains optimistic, stating that “Investors are ready to invest around $50 million in Air Moldova. These investments would help solve the company’s financial problems and replenish its fleet.”
As of May 2023, the Air Moldova fleet consists of three Airbus narrowbodies. These are two Airbus A319’s registered ER-AXM and ER-AXL, and one Airbus A320 registered ER-AXA. Wet lease operations have continued as recently as April 2023, utilizing aircraft including the Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-800, Airbus A321 and Embraer 190.
The grounded aircraft
The table below shows where the grounded Airbus aircraft are currently located and the dates of their most recent flights.
| Registration | Aircraft type | MSN | Date of last flight | Current airport (IATA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ER-AXL | Airbus A319-212 | 2849 | 02-Mar-2023 | VRN |
| ER-AXA | Airbus A320-232 | 02401 | 28-Feb-2023 | MPL |
| ER-AXM | Airbus A319-212 | 1786 | 19-Dec-2022 | MPL |
Cover picture: SeniorNN, JetPhotos
