Flights resumed on Thursday at Albania’s only international airport, one day after they were suspended due to air traffic controllers refusing to work over claims of high stress.
The Albanian government brought in Turkish air traffic controllers to replace them, local media reported. The first flight to land on Thursday was a charter flight carrying the Turkish Minister of Culture who is on a visit to Albania.
Minister of Transport Belinda Balluku said only emergency flights resumed today, while tomorrow all flights will resume.
Albanian air traffic controllers suspended their work on Wednesday, claiming they were under stress due to disagreements with the board of their agency, Albcontrol, over cutting of salaries and firing of their colleagues. They said the government had refused to hear their grievances for the last 10 months.
The government denied anybody was fired, and said suspending their work was illegal. Dozens of them were detained and then released, while prosecutors are mulling filing charges.
Prime Minister Edi Rama accused President Ilir Meta of a coup attempt by agitating them to enter a strike. The army was sent in to take control over the airport on Wednesday.
President Meta called on the Prime Minister to calm down and sit in talks with the air traffic controller instead of creating “artificial tensions” in the country.
