TIRANA, June 19 /ATA/ – Albania inaugurated its first direct air link with Canada on Friday, with officials hailing the new Tirana-Toronto route as a milestone for the country’s aviation sector and a catalyst for tourism, trade and investment.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enea Karakaçi said the route marked the first direct connection between Albania and Canada in the history of the country’s civil aviation.
“We are here not simply to welcome an aircraft, but to celebrate a new opportunity for Albania,” Karakaçi said. “For the first time, a direct flight is linking Canada and Albania, creating a new bridge between our countries and our people.”
Karakaçi said the launch was the result of close cooperation between Albanian and Canadian authorities, supported by extensive diplomatic and technical efforts.
The Minister said the project demonstrated how institutional coordination and political commitment could help overcome bureaucratic obstacles in the public interest.
He highlighted the significance of the route for the Albanian community in Canada, describing it as a well-established diaspora that has maintained strong ties with its country of origin.
Beyond serving the diaspora, the route is expected to open a new source market for Albania’s tourism industry while supporting investment, business ties and broader economic exchanges between the two countries, he added.
The new service will bring visitors from one of the world’s most developed economies and create additional opportunities for trade and investment, according to Karakaçi.
The Minister also pointed to the rapid growth of Albania’s aviation sector, saying passenger traffic has tripled compared with pre-pandemic levels as the country becomes increasingly accessible to travellers from around the world.
/e.i/a.f/r.e/u.sh/
