TIRANA, Jan. 26 – The Tirana-Bari is the new airline the Tirana International Airport has recently
launched. Tour and Fly company Balkan Express will operate the route three times per week—
on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays—with a Fokker 50 of the airline Air Vallee. The Tirana-
Bari line is also regularly offered by ferry through Durres Port.
“This is very good news for all of us. Tailored to offer short or weekend stays, flights are
scheduled at convenient times for Italians working in Albania and will facilitate travel to southern
Italy for many Albanians; the flight is just 50 minutes,” said TIA’s Chief Executive Officer Rolf
Castro-Vasquez.
The new route brings to 21 the number of foreign destinations reached by direct flight from
Tirana.
One year after the bankruptcy of Albania’s Belle Air which controlled more than half of the
Albanian market, Italy’s Alitalia and its Air One subsidiary have gained control in the Albanian air
transport market. From a market share of only 9 percent at the end of 2013, Alitalia, which has
now phased out its Air One brand, has increased its market share to around 40 percent, reports
Italy’s ANSAMed agency. Since October 2014, Air One, its subsidiary which at the end of 2013
controlled around 11 percent of the market, has been having its services operated by Alitalia
brand and aircraft.
