When will we see frequent takeoffs and landings at the new Vlora airport? . The construction of the facilities can be said to be completed. Important step was the decision of the International Air Transport Association, (IATA), to assign the code for airports and ticket sales to Vlora Airport: VLO. This means that IATA has recognized the facility's compliance with international standards. After this decision, IATA's 54,000 accredited travel agents operating in 217 countries can, theoretically, issue tickets for flights to Vlora. But which flights?
It is almost certain that by the beginning of the summer season the company that manages the airport will reach agreements with various airlines to open routes to Vlora. The airport, in fact, should decongest the one in Tirana, which is , in turn, being expanded and ,above all, should serve the large area of southern Albania, where the largest tourist flows are concentrated. In addition to civil aviation flights, the 309-hectare facility with a 22,000-square-meter terminal will offer aircraft maintenance and a full cargo service.
The runway is the longest in the Balkans, 3,200 meters and 60 meters wide, suitable for landings of aircraft such as Boeing 777s and Airbus 330s and therefore also adequate for intercontinental flights. The construction encountered considerable difficulties because the land on which it is located is 2 meters below sea level. The consortium that was granted the concession to build the airport is led by entrepreneur Behgjet Pacolli's New Kosovo Alliance (UAKR) group. And he was the one who inaugurated the runway by landing his private jet and thus making the first test flight of the airport. the initial cost estimated at 104 million euros has risen to 140 million.
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