newstodate.aero
Jan 29, 2014 (newstodate): Plans are underway for development of a regional airport in Albania allowing for low-cost operations.
Kukes Shaikh Zayed International Airport was commissioned in 2010 after serving earlier as a military air force base, but so far only ad-hoc and corporate flights have been operated as the country's Tirana International Airport holds a monopoly of serving international flights.
The Albanian government is now negotiating with Tirana International Airport to lift the curb on international flights at Kukes, aiming at opening up for low-cost operators relieving the pressure on Tirana's capital airport.
The negotiations are, however, doomed to be tough.
Since April 23, 2005, the overall responsibilities for development, operations and management of the airport has been in the hands of Tirana International Airport SHPK, an Albanian company owned by HOCHTIEF AirPort, DEG Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft and the Albanian-American Enterprise Fund.
The Hochtief-led company has earlier vehemently resisted the government's plans for establishing a new international airport at Saranda in Albania to serve the capital, and has also been negative towards plans for opening up Kukes for international traffic.
Kukes Shaikh Zayed International Airport was commissioned in 2010 after serving earlier as a military air force base, but so far only ad-hoc and corporate flights have been operated as the country's Tirana International Airport holds a monopoly of serving international flights.
The Albanian government is now negotiating with Tirana International Airport to lift the curb on international flights at Kukes, aiming at opening up for low-cost operators relieving the pressure on Tirana's capital airport.
The negotiations are, however, doomed to be tough.
Since April 23, 2005, the overall responsibilities for development, operations and management of the airport has been in the hands of Tirana International Airport SHPK, an Albanian company owned by HOCHTIEF AirPort, DEG Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft and the Albanian-American Enterprise Fund.
The Hochtief-led company has earlier vehemently resisted the government's plans for establishing a new international airport at Saranda in Albania to serve the capital, and has also been negative towards plans for opening up Kukes for international traffic.