Moldovan startup Polaris Airlines has launched scheduled service using an Airbus A321 aircraft, with plans to add 10 more routes during its first six weeks of commercial operations.
The airline’s inaugural service from the Moldovan capital’s Chisinau International Airport (RMO) to Istanbul Airport (IST) will initially operate four times per week. Frequencies are due to increase to five times weekly during November and daily in December.
Polaris received its air operator certificate from Moldova’s Civil Aviation Authority on Oct. 26. The approval followed an assessment of its technical documentation, operating procedures, management systems and personnel training, as well as a demonstration flight.
Operations are beginning with a 212-seat A321-200 registered ER-PAG. The aircraft was manufactured in 2003 and previously operated for MyTravel Airways, Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia, Sunclass Airlines and Fly2Sky before joining Polaris in August.
The airline plans to add a second A321 and an A320.
Following the launch, Polaris intends to add six European routes later this month. Three-weekly flights to Bologna, Italy; Prague; and Verona, Italy, will begin Nov. 18, followed by Milan Malpensa on Nov. 19, Rome Fiumicino on Nov. 20 and Dublin on Nov. 21. The carrier also plans to add Düsseldorf, Germany, from Dec. 10, Frankfurt and Paris Charles de Gaulle from Dec. 11, and Berlin the following day.
The expansion places Polaris in direct competition on all planned routes from Chisinau during the winter 2026-27 season, according to OAG Schedules Analyser data.
Istanbul is one of the largest markets from the Moldovan capital. Turkish Airlines, HiSky and Fly One are scheduled to offer about 94,300 one-way seats to IST this winter. Pegasus Airlines provides a further 73,600 seats to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport.
Wizz Air is the incumbent on most of Polaris’ planned Italian and Central European routes. The Hungarian ULCC is scheduled to offer approximately 44,900 seats from Chisinau to Bologna this winter, alongside 40,900 to Rome, 29,200 to Milan Malpensa and 23,700 to Verona. It also provides about 27,700 seats to Prague and 34,700 to Berlin.
Dublin is served by HiSky Europe and Fly One, while Lufthansa and HiSky compete between Chisinau and Frankfurt. Düsseldorf has HiSky and limited Fly One service, while Fly One will also offer limited Paris Charles de Gaulle service in December and January.
Polaris’ launch comes during a period of continued growth at Chisinau. Airlines are scheduled to offer approximately 1.47 million departing seats during winter 2026-27, up 11.8% from 1.32 million a year earlier. Wizz accounts for approximately 821,000 departure seats, or 55.7% of the market.
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