Tirana International Airport (TIA) “Mother Teresa” is positioned as one of the most dynamic air connection centers in the region.

According to official Airports Council International (ACI) Europe data for 2025, Tirana International Airport marks a record 56% increase in air connections, compared to 2019, significantly exceeding the European average, which remains in decline by 9%.

Referring to the data, TIA not only leads the region, leaving behind neighboring countries such as Kosovo with a 1% increase, Serbia with 8%, and North Macedonia with 17% but is positioned as one of the most dynamic airports in Europe for the development of air connections.

Furthermore, TIA is preparing for an important step in the development of Albanian civil aviation, with the launch of direct flights, without transit, to the United States of America.

The head of the Civil Aviation Authority, Maksim Et’hemaj, in a media interview, informed that these flights are expected to start in the spring of 2026, as the runway of TIA airport is being extended and improved to adapt to the technical requirements of the aircraft that will operate on this route. “The runway is being extended and improved. We expect the agreement with the American operator to be signed in September-October and if things go as we predict, due to the geopolitical situation that is happening, we expect that in the spring of 2026, direct flights to and from TIA airport to the United States will start,” said Et’hemaj.

He explained that the agreement with the American operator is expected to be signed in September-October of this year and that the Vlora airport, which was built from the beginning to handle such flights, will need additional time for certification and approvals, so it is expected to start operating about two years later.

“Because it will have to be certified, a process for which we have completed with TIA Airport, to obtain permits, approvals, to continue. So the first will be TIA Airport, in the spring of 2026, followed by Vlora Airport, one or two years later,” the head of the CAA emphasized.

This development is part of a broader strategy for the advancement of civil aviation in the country, including the introduction of aircraft maintenance organizations, the opening of civil and military aviation schools, as well as the expansion of airport infrastructure.

Et’hemaj noted that Vlora airport offers a significant advantage for passengers and tourism, enabling faster access to the Albanian Riviera in less than an hour, thanks to recent infrastructure improvements such as the Llogora tunnel and the Rrogozhina-Vlora highway.

According to him, in recent years, competition in the Albanian aviation market has brought about price reductions and an increase in the number of passengers.

“In 2018, only 6.7% of the population had access to flights, while last year this figure reached 42%, and this year it is expected to increase to 47%. Forecasts show that the number of passengers will double by 2042, going from 12 million to 24 million,” he added.