First flight between Tirana and New York

TIRANA, June 15 – The new direct flight between Albania and US launched last weekend by Scanderbeg Air presents a great opportunity for the Albanian community.
From 14 June, 2009 onwards, passengers traveling between Tirana and New York have the opportunity to make their journey on a direct flight.
Sunday marked a new route put into operation between the capital city of Albania and New York City, the largest city in the United States.
Scanderbeg Air is using a B767-200 aircraft, operated by Sky King Inc. The test flight for the new route took place on Monday, 1 June, 2009, when an aircraft took off from JFK New York to land in Tirana International Airport (TIA). All aspects of this new flight were tested successfully.
The company providing this new route is American with its headquarters in New York, and the aircraft it will be operating for the flight, a Boeing 767, has 214 seats, 18 in business class.
The service is top quality, professional and with Albanian speaking flight attendants since the target of Scanderbeg Air is Albanians.
The flight is available at an affordable, economic price in order for the company to be competitive in the market.
Belle Air is in charge of ticket management both here in Tirana and in Albania’s neighboring countries.
“This new service presents a great opportunity not only for Albania and its residents, but also the Albanian community living in the US, all of whom now have the chance to travel directly to or from their home country to meet their relatives or go on business,” said Andrea Gebbeken, TIA Chief Executive Officer.
The new direct flight will depart TIA for JFK each Sunday in June at 10:00 hrs and from July to September at 08:00 hrs every Tuesday and Friday. The flight from New York will leave at 22:00 hrs each remaining Friday in June and from July to September at 22:00 hrs. Flying time is approximately twelve hours.
TIA is committed to always offering its passengers and customers the best, which is why they are trying to extend their list of destinations and airlines. As well as offering a safe and secure environment for its customers, the company offers a high standard working environment to the airlines operating at TIA, whose numbers are growing.
Since 23 April, 2005, overall responsibility for the development, operation and management of Tirana International Airport N쯫 Tereza has been in the hands of Tirana International Airport SHPK (TIA), an Albanian company under German-American ownership.
The shareholders are HOCHTIEF AirPort, DEG Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft and the Albanian-American Enterprise Fund. Backed by the shareholders’ expertise in airport management and financing, TIA has set itself the goal of expanding the Airport in 2009 and setting new standards of comfort, convenience and service. During 2007, more than EUR 50 million were invested in the Airport. The new passenger terminal started operations on 22 March, 2007. A new cargo terminal and a new access road were also completed in the spring of 2007 and are now in operation.