OREANDA-NEWS. June 05, 2012.  Prime Minister Vlad Filat today took part in the launch of a direct Chisinau-Venice air route and attended a presentation of a Boieng 737 aircraft, the government's communication and media relations department has reported.

The prime minister, accompanied by the leadership of the Moldavian Airlines company that will operate the flights to Italy, entered the aircraft and discussed with the first passengers.

After the plane took off, the prime minister held a news conference on the matter, stating that a long-expected event took place in Moldova today.

"This is an attained objective, which we have set while coming to power. Our goal was to open more destinations and to provide high safety at reasonable prices. The launch of direct low-cost flights to Italy once again proves that we live up to our promises," Filat said.

The prime minister said that the Common Aviation Area Agreement between Moldova and the European Union would be signed in Brussels on 26 June. he said that the liberalization of the air space is carried out for the benefit of all the air companies willing to operate flights from and to Moldova.

"The liberalization of the air space does not imply the creation of conditions for a single enterprise. It means competition. We welcome every action meant to decrease the costs of tickets and to increase the flights' safety," Filat said.

The prime minister also said that a meeting of the national council for public-private projects would be held on 8 June. He said that the participants in the meeting would discuss public-private projects due to be launched in Moldova, including the ones meant for the development of the Chisinau International Airport.

Filat congratulated the Moldavian Airlines leadership on the launch of direct low-cost routes to Italy. Weekly flights to Venice, Milano and Rome will be operated by the Moldovan air carrier at a price starting from 85 euros.

The head of the Moldavian Airlines company, Nicolae Petrov, said that the 148-seat Boeing 737 aircraft is meant exclusively for the Moldovan air fleet. He thanked the prime minister and the governmental team for the support in the liberalization of the air space between Moldova and Italy. He said that the Moldavian Airlines company is willing to launch other flights to destinations that will be of interest for Moldovans.