Moldova’s FlyOne receives IOSA certification

FlyOne is Moldova's largest Airbus A320 operator with five of the type in its fleet (FlyOne)

Moldovan low-cost carrier FlyOne has successfully completed IATA’s (International Air Transport Association) operational safety audit (IOSA) and has been recognized as IOSA operator, the airline announced.

The milestone is of particular importance for the young airline, as Moldova remains on the EU Air Safety List (the so called ‘blacklist’), and its carriers, with the exception of Air Moldova and FlyOne, are banned from operating flights to Europe. The two airlines are thus under tightened scrutiny of the European authorities.

The audit was conducted by Aviation Quality Services (AQS), an accredited audit organization with headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. A 5-member audit team assessed more than 900 internationally harmonized standards and recommended practices, in eight audited areas with a focus on: organization and management systems, flight operations, flight dispatch, aircraft engineering and maintenance, cabin operations, ground handling, cargo operations, and security management.

Launched in 2016 FlyOne is currently gearing up to resuming operations of its five Airbus A320s across its network of 14 destinations in Europe, Russia, Israel and Egypt from base Chisinau International Airport. After more than two months in lockdown the flights will be gradually resumed starting July 1 as the existing restrictions on air travel are removed.

On the relatively small local air travel market of primarily tourism across Europe and commuting to Russia and neighboring Romania, FlyOne is competing both against flag carrier Air Moldova (owned by Romania’s Blue Air since 2018) and against Hungarian LCC Wizz Air, which bases several aircraft at Chisinau. A newcomer to the crowded market, start-up airline HiSky is also preparing to launch operations shortly.