It will create crucial transportation links to destinations in the south of the country.
When construction began on Albania’s new Vlora International Airport following a concession agreement in 2021, it was hailed by the media for its enormous economic potential. The Eastern European country is about 11 times bigger than Luxembourg in size and already has two functioning airports, namely Kukes International Airport and Tirana International Airport. But Vlora International Airport offers many unique advantages that can’t be dismissed.
Located near the village of Akemi, the new airport is being constructed and financed by a consortium led by Swiss-based Mabco Constructions, which controls a 50% stake. Other companies in the joint venture include Turkey’s YDA Group and Kosovo’s 2A Group. Their mission is to build a modern, world-class airport that will serve as a gateway to Southern Albania, and by so doing, boost trade, tourism, and create jobs.
In the meantime, construction is still ongoing at the airport, although a certification flight was carried out in May 2025. From all indications, construction is nearing completion, even as the airport will soon open for full commercial operations.
The Geographic Sweet Spot: A Strategic Asset
Situated on the Adriatic coast, it offers a direct maritime entry point that is geographically closer to key inland markets than many alternative ports. Its proximity to North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Greece makes it a natural hub for regional distribution. A 2025 report by the Air Transport Action Group highlighted how airports inevitably enable development by facilitating the movement of millions of people from one place to another. Aside from the infrastructural development, which is the most obvious, development also comes in the form of the many jobs created both within and outside the airport.
Aviation data offers valuable insights into business travel patterns, emerging destinations, and optimal event timings, helping stakeholders attract MICE. Albania will surely attract top conferences and business events with a strong MICE tourism strategy. Major industry events in the Balkans for 2025 include the Balkan Economic Forum in Belgrade (Serbia), the Belgrade Mining Congress also in Belgrade (Serbia), the Balkans Power Summit in Kotor (Montenegro), the BalkanCom conference in Piraeus (Greece), and the IRF Europe & Central Asia Regional Congress in Sofia (Bulgaria). On october 10th, Durana Tech Park attracted hundreds of leaders, innovators, and experts to InnoVision Forum 2025. Tirana has a great potential to become a souther european ICT start-up hub due to a young, multilingual population. In 2024, the EU accounted for 57.4% of Albania’s total trade. In the first half of 2025, trade with EU countries made up 55.9% of the total, according to RTSH.
Italy is the largest trading partner for Albania, followed by Greece. Albania primarily exports textiles and clothing, minerals and metals, and agricultural products (like fruits and vegetables) to the EU.
Agricultural exports to the Balkan region and the European Union from Albania increased to over €473 million during 2022, the highest value ever, according to Agriculture Minister Frida Krifca (Euractiv). According to a 2022 World Bank Report, Albania’s agriculture sector is ripe with potential but struggles with rising costs, infrastructural challenges, and untapped potential.
Competition is high in the European union and, the potential economic benefits of the Vlora International Airport are too numerous to mention. Albania’s medicinal herb industry is a significant economic sector, making it a top global exporter of medicinal plants like sage and thyme. The industry has experienced rapid growth, particularly in recent years, but faces challenges including the emigration of its workforce, rising costs, and the need for greater mechanization and quality controlAnd the Albanian economy and people will be all the better for it.
An Interesting Feature to Note about the Vlora International Airport
Aside from its modern features, one that deserves special mention is the fact that the new airport would be run on renewable energy. Yes, the airport will be covered with enough solar panels capable of generating 5.2 megawatts of electricity. This shows that the developers aren’t just keen about harnessing the economic potential, but also care about sustainability.
In other related news, the operator of Kukes International Airport, Global Technical Mechanics, recently announced that it is also venturing into the solar power market. The company was granted a 25-year power generation licence by Albania’s energy regulator. It plans to build and operate a 12 megawatt solar power plant.
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