The Albanian government has announced that flights with Whizz Air will start from Kukes airport in May, making it the first activity since all flights stopped in October 2021.
Kukes Airport was opened by Prime Minister Edi Rama just before the 2021 general elections. He promised thousands of jobs, tourists, and new revenue streams for the country’s north. But by October, all flights had stopped, and staff said they had no idea if and when they would start again.
Kukes Airport Closed, No Flights Available, and No Information on Resumption
But in a statement today, Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku said flights would start from May with low-cost airline Wizz Air. A ceremony was held today at the airport with Rama, Balluku and airline representatives.
“Today is another special day for aviation, and we are proud of the achievements in this field during these years—a very important development for the aviation of Albania. We are here with one of the largest low-cost companies in Europe, which already reaches destinations outside the continent from where it has started to launch the new flight program which starts in May at Kukes airport,” Balluku said.
She also said that Kukes Airpot has been certified by NATO and meets “all security conditions set by the EU and NATO.”
Rama presented the Director of Wizz Air, Jozsef Varadi, with a tie, hand-painted by himself, during the ceremony.
“Please look at my tie because I’m so proud. I got it from the prime minister, and it is the best tie I have ever had, thank you,” he said.
Rama also took the opportunity to talk about the development of the Saranda airport and the controversial Vlora airport, which will bring the total number of commercial airports in Albania to four.
https://exit.al/en/2021/02/01/36-environmental-organizations-ask-albanian-government-to-drop-construction-of-vlora-airport/
