TIRANA, Nov. 7 /ATA/ – Air traffic in Albania is expected to grow by 18.3% in 2026, with Tirana International Airport forecast to handle more than 13.5 million passengers, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enea Karakaçi said on Saturday.
Speaking during a visit to the airport, Karakaçi welcomed the expansion of low-cost airlines’ operations, describing it as a positive sign for the development of the country’s aviation sector.
He said the liberalisation of the air transport market and a reduction in the passenger fee from 10 euros to 1 euro had helped boost traffic and expand the range of flight destinations.
Tirana International Airport, also known as Rinas, remains the largest in the region, Karakaçi said, adding that projected passenger numbers reflected substantial growth compared with previous years.
The minister cited plans by a major low-cost carrier to expand its routes and fleet at the airport, describing the move as a further boost for Albanian aviation.
Air traffic in 2026 is expected to be 18.3% higher than in 2025 and more than three times the 2019 level, he said.
Karakaçi also highlighted investments by state-owned air navigation service provider Albcontrol in personnel and technology to ensure the safe management and navigation of growing air traffic.
He said the target of handling more than 13.5 million passengers this year was expected to be achieved without financial incentives or government subsidies for airlines, unlike practices in some other countries.
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