TIRANA, Oct. 11 – Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air will reactivate Tirana-Budapest direct flights after a five-year break, Transport Minister Sokol Dervishaj has announced following a meeting with Hungarian Ambassador to Tirana Antal Heizer.
The Hungarian airline is expected to launch direct Budapest-Tirana flights in April 2017 in a move that is expected to benefit both trade exchanges and tourism between the two countries, currently at low levels.
Albania’s exports to Hungary rose to €13 million in 2015 while imports from Hungary were at €34 million, according to state statistical institute, INSTAT.
Tirana and Budapest had regular direct flights until early 2012 when Hungarian airline Malev ceased flying operations after going bankrupt.
Wizz Air which has been operating for 12 years and covers almost all European destinations, had previously also expressed interest to launch flights from Albania’s Kukes airport, which got the green light for flights only this year after the Tirana International Airport had its exclusive rights on international flights lifted. However, the airport situated rather unfavourably in northeastern Albania, about two and half hours from Tirana and a six-hour drive from the southern Riviera, remains inactive as the government hasn’t settled whether it will manage it on its own or award a concession.
Low cost companies have earlier complained it has been impossible for them to operate in Albania due to the high fees charged by the TIA airport concessionaire, recently taken over by a Chinese consortium.
Albania has one of the region’s highest ticket prices although the airport serves about 2 million passengers a year, mainly to Italy.
Poland’s state-run airline LOT has expressed its interest to launch direct flights with Tirana as Albania has emerged a top 10 destination for Poles.
