The airline is entering Moldova’s rapidly growing air travel market, which is characterised by significant growth in passenger traffic and increasing competition from carriers such as Wizz Air and HiSky. The company’s business model is based on offering low fares, operating direct flights (point-to-point) and serving both the large Moldovan diaspora and tourists travelling to popular resorts in Europe and the Mediterranean.
Polaris Airlines has established its main hub at Chisinau International Airport.
The airline’s launch comes against the backdrop of continued growth in Moldova’s aviation sector, driven by a steady increase in demand and the expansion of international connections in recent years. Polaris aims to capitalise on this opportunity by positioning itself as a budget alternative on key routes from Chișinău to major European cities.
The carrier operates on an ultra-low-cost model, offering passengers basic fares with the option to select additional services — similar to other European budget airlines. According to the airline’s own data and industry reports, it will initially focus on markets characterised by significant flows of ethnic, labour and tourist travel. In its initial route network, the carrier is prioritising destinations in Italy, Central Europe, Ireland and Turkey.
Launch
The airline’s first route was Chisinau–Istanbul (Istanbul Airport). Flights commenced on 5 November 2026; by December, the frequency of flights is scheduled to increase to daily. Istanbul provides Polaris with access to one of the largest aviation markets in the region and also serves as an important hub connecting Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Furthermore, this route is in high demand due to the significant passenger traffic between Moldova and Turkey, driven by business travel, tourism and visits to friends and relatives.
Phase Two
The second phase of the airline’s development will begin on 18 November 2026: Polaris will launch flights from Chișinău to Bologna, Prague and Verona. Flights on each of these routes will operate three times a week. The routes to Italy are aimed at the significant Moldovan diaspora living in the northern part of the country, whilst the route to Prague opens up access to the growing Central European market.
Expansion
The expansion of the route network continues: on 19 November 2026, the airline will launch flights on the Chișinău–Milan (Malpensa) route, operating three times a week. Milan is one of the largest centres of the Moldovan diaspora in Western Europe, so this route is set to become a key component of the carrier’s route network in the initial phase. On 20 November 2026, the airline will also commence flights to Rome (Fiumicino) – also three times a week. Together with Bologna, Verona and Milan, the flights to Rome will give Polaris a significant presence in one of the most important international markets for Moldova.
On 21 November 2026, the airline plans to launch flights between Chișinău and Dublin — three flights a week. Dublin is becoming an increasingly important destination for Moldovan citizens working or living abroad, and the new route expands the carrier’s route network.
The launch strategy is to create a network that will directly connect Moldova with major European capitals and cities home to significant Moldovan diaspora communities, thereby reducing reliance on connecting flights at major international hubs. As a result, Polaris is entering into direct competition with a number of airlines operating in the Moldovan market — in particular, Wizz Air, HiSky and other low-cost and regional carriers operating flights from Chișinău.
This story was translated with the assistance of artificial intelligence.The translation was also reviewed by the Logos Press editorial team.
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