Italian Airline Seeks To Revive Albania Route

Tirana | 14 January 2009 | Italian carrier Eurofly has asked  permission from Italian authorities to operate flights from Milan to Tirana’s Mother Theresa International Airport, TIA, a route formerly by Alitalia, which its scaling down its Malpensa hub after being privatized in December.

The Albania-Italy connection is serviced by several low-cost airlines, with Albanian ‘Belle Air Airway’ having the lion’s share. The private Albanian Airlines also has flights as do Italian carriers Alitalia and Club Air. Star Airway, a new Albanian carrier is expected to start flights with various Italian airports in early 2009 to cater to the large Albania emigrant communities in the country.

Tirana’s Airport has seen a proportional growth in traffic in the last two years and is currently used by 16 airlines that connect the Albanian capital directly with 30 destinations, mainly in Western Europe where most of Albania’s 1.5 million-strong diaspora live.

In 2007  the aiport recorded its best year in terms of passenger numbers and cargo traffic, serving 1.1 million passengers, 22 percent higher than the previous year, and handling 3,483 tonnes of cargo.

Last year, it got a €46 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to extend the new passenger terminal, construct additional airport buildings and invest in new equipment and systems. The expansion is expected to be completed within 2009.

(Reporting by Besar Likmeta) Balkaninsight