Travellers and mobility managers seeking new Eastern-European options received an early Christmas present as Ukrainian-Moldovan carrier SkyUp Airlines inaugurated twice-weekly flights between Dublin and Chișinău on 18 December. The route—profiled in Irish media on 24 December—operates on Tuesdays and Thursdays this winter using a Boeing 737-700 and is timed for convenient onward connections via Dublin.
The addition makes Dublin the ninth Western-European destination in SkyUp’s network and Ireland’s first direct link to Moldova, previously accessible only via multi-stop itineraries through London, Frankfurt or Istanbul. For companies with field teams in the fast-growing Moldovan IT-outsourcing sector, the new service cuts typical door-to-door travel times by six hours and avoids Schengen-zone transit-visa hassles for non-EU passport holders.
For travellers unsure whether they need a Moldovan e-visa, transit permission for Ukraine’s airspace, or onward documentation for side trips to neighbouring Romania, VisaHQ can simplify the process. The company’s Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) provides up-to-date entry requirements by nationality, digital application tools and optional courier services, making it easier for Dublin-based passengers to secure the right paperwork before boarding this new non-Schengen flight.
![SkyUp Airlines opens direct Dublin–Chișinău service, giving Ireland its first nonstop link to Moldova]()
Dublin Airport says the launch brings the number of airlines operating at the hub to 43 and supports daa’s strategy of diversifying routes beyond traditional leisure markets. Advance bookings indicate strong VFR demand from the 4,000-strong Moldovan community in Ireland and interest from adventure tourists keen to explore one of Europe’s least-visited countries and the nearby breakaway region of Transnistria.
Travel-policy impact: Companies should update approved-carrier lists to include SkyUp (IATA code U5) and review travel-risk guidance for Moldova, which borders Ukraine. Mobility teams relocating staff may find the route useful for scouting trips or family visits, but should note that SkyUp charges for checked bags and has a 7 kg cabin-baggage limit.
The airline says frequency could rise to three weekly flights for summer 2026 if demand holds, and tourism agency Travel Extra reports that Ryanair is “watching the route closely” for a potential entry.
The addition makes Dublin the ninth Western-European destination in SkyUp’s network and Ireland’s first direct link to Moldova, previously accessible only via multi-stop itineraries through London, Frankfurt or Istanbul. For companies with field teams in the fast-growing Moldovan IT-outsourcing sector, the new service cuts typical door-to-door travel times by six hours and avoids Schengen-zone transit-visa hassles for non-EU passport holders.
For travellers unsure whether they need a Moldovan e-visa, transit permission for Ukraine’s airspace, or onward documentation for side trips to neighbouring Romania, VisaHQ can simplify the process. The company’s Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) provides up-to-date entry requirements by nationality, digital application tools and optional courier services, making it easier for Dublin-based passengers to secure the right paperwork before boarding this new non-Schengen flight.
Dublin Airport says the launch brings the number of airlines operating at the hub to 43 and supports daa’s strategy of diversifying routes beyond traditional leisure markets. Advance bookings indicate strong VFR demand from the 4,000-strong Moldovan community in Ireland and interest from adventure tourists keen to explore one of Europe’s least-visited countries and the nearby breakaway region of Transnistria.
Travel-policy impact: Companies should update approved-carrier lists to include SkyUp (IATA code U5) and review travel-risk guidance for Moldova, which borders Ukraine. Mobility teams relocating staff may find the route useful for scouting trips or family visits, but should note that SkyUp charges for checked bags and has a 7 kg cabin-baggage limit.
The airline says frequency could rise to three weekly flights for summer 2026 if demand holds, and tourism agency Travel Extra reports that Ryanair is “watching the route closely” for a potential entry.
