The government of Albania has announced it will start repatriation of Albanians stranded in some European countries after borders were closed due to coronavirus. Those who wish to return home will pay for the Air Albania flight and their two-week quarantine in hotels arranged by the government.
On Tuesday, Minister of Infrastructure Belinda Balluku said they are working with Air Albania and hotels to come up with several [flight and quarantine] “packages with reasonable prices”, which will be available for booking on Air Albania’s website starting form Thursday, April 16.
The first flight will be Tirana-Rome on April 18. No information on other flights has been made public yet.
People should book a package online, and should carry with the printed booking confirmation with them all the time during the trip.
Minister Balluku explained that police will escort them from airport to quarantine hotels in Durres, 35km from capital Tirana.
Fights to Italy can also be booked by Italian or Albanian citizens who have a residence permit in the Italy.
The government had stated they had prepared quarantine facilities before the epidemic reached the country. It’s therefore unclear why the decision for this solution took one month, and moreover why travelers are placed in hotels at their own expenses.
The government used hotels to shelter earthquake survivors in November 2019 but it covered their costs.
Last week, dozens of Albanian emigrants returning from Greece were forced into quarantine hotels in Korça at their own expense, with cost varying from €200 to €300 per person.
