Three years ago today, work began on the Vlora International Airport, a major project for all Albanians. “Here, where we are standing, the aerodrome was first built back in 1920 and was used for military purposes. Today, on this historic site, we are starting a new chapter,” said Prime Minister Edi Rama on the day the construction began. Today, work is progressing rapidly toward the final stages, including the 3.2 km runway, the control tower, the 25,000-square-meter terminal, and other vital airport infrastructure, including facilities for firefighters, police, customs, and more.
On November 28th, Prime Minister Rama visited the construction site, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku.
“We are at the construction site of the Vlora Airport. We are now in the final stages of construction, and everything is on track. To our left is the 3.2-kilometer runway, just as we had planned. As you can see, all the machinery is in operation right now. We are currently laying the stabilizing layer, and soon we’ll move on to the other layers, including the cement base, and eventually, the special asphalt used for the runway. Over here, we are at the firefighters’ building section. Ahead of us is the tower. The tower is almost finished; all the internal partitions are in place, and the upper dome is already manufactured and ready to be installed. We have set specific deadlines in our schedule,” explained Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, who also addressed the challenging areas of construction due to the difficult geology.
“We are in an area that is two meters below sea level, so the entire terrain, not just the runway, has been raised by 2.7 meters above the original level of the entire field. This was originally a military airfield built in the early 1920s, as we know. At the same time, all the drainage work has been completed, since the area is prone to flooding, despite the elevation we’ve achieved. Most importantly, the entire perimeter fence has been completed, and it now meets the required standards.”
Prime Minister Rama praised the work done so far, emphasizing that it needs to be intensified moving forward.
“Now, we need to work day and night to ensure that the airport is fully operational by the start of the season and that it contributes to the overall economic activity of the country. After that, many other positive things will surely follow with the presence of the airport, but it’s very important—day and night, night and day, day and night, night and day,” he stated.
In April, the airport will complete its phase of certification according to international standards, under the supervision of the airport operator, which is Munich International Airport. Meanwhile, many local and international travel agencies have already begun booking flights to Vlora, where a new engine for the economy will soon start running.
The recruitment of staff will begin soon, while the Civil Aviation Authority is working on the establishment of a professional academy in this field, in collaboration with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization).