Prime Minister Edi Rama wished good morning to Albanians this Friday, pointing out that the government’s investment in Vlora airport will make every Albanian proud and every foreign tourist will be amazed from the first moments that they will set foot on the Albanian soil.

All the conditions of Vlora Airport are such that the flights will be from New York to Vlora and from Vlora to New York because we will take the “Fan Noli” aircraft to the US and bring the Albanians from the US directly to Albania, ” – said Rama.

PM also underlined that the aviation academy will be established in Vlora. “We will invest as a state to build an aviation academy in Vlora to prepare Albanian technicians up to the pilots. Albania will become a country where the number of visitors will increase at an exponential rate. I am convinced that the people of Vlora will feel even more proud of their place, foreigners will feel more touched in the Albanian land, even more amazed in this country to which God has bequeathed everything… Today is the time for us all to make Albania hold its head higher and higher, ” – says Rama.

Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Belinda Balluku, stated that “Vlora Airport with a runway over 3 km long designed to accommodate long and short-haul flights will mark a new step forward in the development of Albanian civil aviation and will give a kick-start to economic growth all over Albania.

The Albanian Government has signed the agreement on construction of Vlora Airport with a consortium of companies run by the company of Behgjet Pacolli.

The tender procedures have concluded few days ago and two bidders have submitted their offers for construction of the airport near the coastal city of Vlora, the government head announced while visiting the town of Saranda.

If the Offer Evaluation Commission finds that one of the bidders meet the criteria to be selected – the Premier went on saying – we will immediately launch the procedures for construction of Saranda airport.

PM Rama said that the design for Saranda airport is ready.

“It looks like a winner will be announced for construction of Vlora airport, as two companies have shown interest and as soon as a contract will be awarded for construction of Vlora airport we will launch the procedures for the airport in Saranda,” Rama stated.

The tender procedures for construction of Vlora international airport were launched in late 2019 and the winner was expected to be announced in March 2020, but the process was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ministry of Infrastructure decided to reopen the tender for the concession in November 2020, setting December 14, 2020 as the final deadline when the winner was to be announced. However, a complaint with the Public Procurement Commission caused more delays to the process finalization.

After the Rinas International Airport, and with expected opening of Kukes airport in early spring, Vlora airport will be the third airport set to become operational in Albania.

Saranda airport is designed to serve as a seasonal airport for special flights during the tourism season between April and October.

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