Flight delays in Moldova lead to €61,000 passenger compensation
Air passengers in Moldova recovered over €61,000 (1.2 million MDL) in compensation and refunds during the first half of 2026. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) reported that the majority of grievances involved cancelled flights, delays exceeding three hours, denied boarding, and lost luggage.
Despite these recoveries, retrieving funds remains a lengthy process for many travellers, with some waiting months for operator responses.
Widespread delays drive complaints
During the first quarter of the year, the CAA received 216 petitions from passengers. Most claims cited flights cancelled less than 14 days prior to departure or delays longer than three hours.
To date, authorities have resolved 160 of these petitions, ensuring eligible passengers received their statutory payouts.
However, individual experiences highlight persistent operational bottlenecks. Passenger Alexei Barbarii experienced a delay of over three hours on a flight from Chișinău to Germany, completely disrupting his travel schedule.
"I sent an email, but received absolutely no response," Barbarii said. "Half a year has passed since then, and the flight was delayed by over six hours. I don't plan to request anything anymore because it's pointless. I realized there's no point."
Lack of awareness and process complexity
Many affected passengers refrain from filing official claims due to a lack of procedural knowledge or reliance on third-party intermediaries.
"I have experienced delays, yes," another passenger noted. "I didn't request refunds because I wasn't aware. Later I learned on social media that it was possible and realized I made a mistake. Honestly, we don't know the procedure. There are agents who handle this, but you have to share the money with them. It seems that up to 300 euros can be recovered."
Regulatory mechanisms for compensation
Consumer petitions follow two primary resolution routes in Moldova. In straightforward cases, airlines accept claims voluntarily without formal enforcement.
When carriers refuse payment, the CAA initiates a regulatory investigation to determine legal entitlement.
"Part of the indicated amount was reimbursed voluntarily following settlement between the airline and the consumer, said Sergiu Croitor, consumer protection inspector at the Civil Aviation Authority. "A total of 31 petitions were examined under this route, resulting in voluntary refunds of €13,779 (270,073 MDL)."
"In cases where payments were not made voluntarily, we examined 60 petitions totaling €42,466 (832,338 MDL)," Croitor added.
The CAA advises all passengers facing flight disruptions, cancellations, or denied boarding to formally exercise their legal rights. Assistance and guidance remain available through the agency's consumer hotline and dedicated support center.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
