Vlora Airport (Aeroporti i Vlorës) aims for a Spring 2025 launch despite an 8-month timeline for traffic control system installation.
Albcontrol is laying the groundwork for Vlora Airport (Aeroporti i Vlorës) to begin operations, with plans targeting a spring 2025 debut. Yet, some pressing questions remain: How will everything be ready on time when air traffic control systems installation could take eight months?
In December 2024, Albcontrol began preparing infrastructure for Vlora Airport’s operation, set to open this spring. The procurement process is now underway for air traffic control equipment and operational systems, essential for the facility to function efficiently.
- Budget: Nearly 39.7 million lekë allocated for procurement.
- Systems Purchased: Voice Communication Systems (VCS) and Voice Communication Recorders (VCR).
- Completion Timeline: Installation is expected to take up to 8 months.
Construction at Vlora Airport kicked off in late 2021. Initially, the facility will handle up to 2 million passengers annually. Once Phase 1 is completed, additional developments will follow. Future phases include a cargo facility, an expanded passenger terminal, and a flight academy.
Aeroporti i Vlorës covers 309 hectares and features a 3.2-kilometre runway designed to accommodate wide-body aircraft, including Airbus 330-340 and Boeing 777. A parallel taxiway matches the runway length, ensuring seamless plane movement in the manoeuvring area.
Design and Ambitions Clash with Reality
The projected impact on the local economy and tourism is significant, especially for Albania’s southern regions.
Yet, alongside grand statements, controversy remains alive. By encroaching on a protected area, environmental groups don’t see how the benefits outweigh the ecological damages. The government hasn’t adequately explained why this location was chosen, especially given its proximity to Tirana Airport.
The airport’s location inside Narta Lagoon, a protected zone, has faced heavy criticism. Conservationists argue the project violates laws and global agreements Albania has signed. Migratory birds, including the endangered Dalmatian pelican, rely on the lagoon. Environmentalists warn of potential collisions between aeroplanes and local wildlife, especially migratory birds.
One spokesperson from the Albanian Ornithological Society explained that building here contradicts Albania’s commitment to conservation. “It’s an ecological disaster waiting to happen.”
This project involves an investment of 104 million euros, aiming to boost Vlora’s region—and particularly its tourism sector. Officials hope the “air gateway of the south” becomes a strategic hub for the area.
However, scepticism lingers, with operations starting at partial capacity and system installation on a tight timeline. Will all these promises take off as planned? Or will delays push the project into turbulence?
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