Albania’s international airport achieves record passenger, cargo growth in 2007

TIRANA, Jan. 20 – Albania’s Mother Teresa International Airport said last week that its new passenger and cargo terminals had a record growth in 2007.
The number of passengers increased by 22 percent, cargo increased by 65 percent and air traffic by 15 percent, all compared to a year ago, according to airport authorities.
The airport processed 1,1 million passengers and handled 3,483 tons of cargo.
“Tirana International Airport has experienced an incredible year, and we are very pleased to have ended 2007 with such a record number of passengers. We are certain that (we) … will keep our growth rates at a high level,” said CEO Andrea Gebbeken.
The new passenger and cargo terminals, and a 6.5-kilometer (4-mile) access road near Tirana, cost 50 million Euro (US$74 million) were inaugurated by the German-U.S. consortium which owns the airport in March last year.
Fourteen airlines connect directly the Albanian capital Tirana traveling to 30 destinations.
The airlines carrying most passengers to and from Tirana in 2007 were Belleair (24 percent), Alitalia (20 percent), Albanian Airlines (14 percent), Austrian Airlines (9 percent) and Turkish Airlines (5 percent). August was the top month, with 150,657 passengers carried and 1,976 ATMs handled compared to 130,351 passengers and 1,696 ATMs in 2006.
Last year saw Tirana International Airport finalize some of its key infrastructure investments, especially the opening of its new passenger terminal. The finalization of these projects was accompanied by impressive achievements in the company’s business performance.
The extension of the passenger terminal, which will further increase the capacity of the airport, is set to begin in the coming months. At the same time, TIA said it remains loyal to its commitment to operate a safe and secure environment and to be involved in the social development of the area, according to a statement.
The German-U.S. consortium, made up of HOCHTIEF AirPort, DEG Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft and the Albanian-American Enterprise Fund, took over Tirana airport’s overall responsibility for the development, operation and management in April 2005.
Backed by the shareholders’ expertise in airport management and financing, TIA has set itself the goal of expanding the Airport in 2008 and setting new standards of comfort, convenience and service.