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Delayed flights, lost luggage – what rights do passengers have? Press club with the Civil Aeronautical Authority and ECC Moldova

Friday, 11 July 20252968 views
Delayed flights, lost luggage – what rights do passengers have? Press club with the Civil Aeronautical Authority and ECC Moldova

Automatically translated summary. The full article is available in Romanian.

A press club hosted by Expert-Grup brought together the Civil Aeronautical Authority (AAC) and the European Consumer Centre Moldova (ECC Moldova) to explain passenger rights in cases of delayed flights and lost luggage. It was held in summer 2025, amid record passenger growth at Chisinau International Airport.

Passenger traffic rose by 60% in April, 42% in May and 40% in June 2025 compared with the same months of 2024, and about 5.4 million passengers are expected by the end of the year. AAC Director Vasile Saramet said the authority receives roughly 250-300 complaints a year and has facilitated refunds of over MDL 9.5 million. Passengers may claim up to EUR 600 for delayed or cancelled flights, depending on distance and circumstances, and up to EUR 20 per kg for lost or damaged baggage, while airlines must provide food, accommodation and transport. AAC has launched an information campaign at the airport.

ECC Moldova director Mihaela Pascal described free assistance in cross-border cases, citing a Paris-Chisinau flight delayed by over 24 hours and operated by a Malta-registered company, handled under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. She stressed that information, assistance and compensation are legal obligations, not options. The event was moderated by Vitalie Rapcea of Expert-Grup.

View the original article in Romanian