Air passenger transport in the country increased at double-digit rates in the second quarter of 2026, while the volume of goods and mail decreased.

According to INSTAT data, during the April-June period, 3,858,055 passengers traveled by air, up from 3,052,511 in the same period a year earlier. This represents an annual increase of 26.4%.

Some 33 foreign airlines operated in air transport, compared to 29 in the second quarter of 2025. The number of flights reached 23,216, up from 18,458 a year earlier.

A total of 121,684 aircraft flew in Albanian airspace. Of these, 98,468 were transits, or 80.9% of the total, while the rest consisted of flights reported domestically.

The increase in the number of passengers from the only airport in the country, Tirana International, has long been following an upward trajectory as a result of the increase in the number of destinations covered by low-cost airlines but also from a good performance of tourism in the country where Albania has continued to be at the center of international promotion.

On the other hand, air cargo and mail transport contracted. The volume of arrivals and departures reached 704 tons, down 11.9% compared to the second quarter of 2025.

Inbound cargo and mail accounted for 74.6% of the total volume, while outbound cargo and mail accounted for 25.4%.

Air cargo trade also declined. The volume of imports and exports reached 556 tons, or 4.7% less than in the same period last year.

According to INSTAT, goods imported by air accounted for only 0.02% of the total volume of goods imported into the country.