- Vlora Airport will host its first plane on May 8, 2025;
- International airport now officially recognized by IATA as VLO;
- Certification steps to make the airport fully operational are underway;
- Promised opening finally sees daylight, right before tourist season.
The Grand Arrival: Vlora Airport Finally Sees Its First Plane
The runway at Vlora Airport is about to get its fifteen minutes of fame: the first plane should touch down on May 8, 2025. The ink might barely be dry on the certification paperwork, but officials rush to ensure the airport is open in time for the summer season. With its spanking new IATA code (VLO—don’t forget it), Vlora Airport is the latest effort in Albania’s quest to convince tourists that flying here isn’t an extreme sport.
Government bigwigs promised the airport would open, and someone kept their word.
Building a Big, Shiny Playground (for Planes)
Construction started in late 2021, so the place still smells like fresh concrete and dubious optimism. Vlora Airport covers 309 hectares, so there’s enough room to park a few dozen Airbuses and maybe even sneak in a food truck. The 3.2-kilometer runway isn’t just for show—it’s ready for wide-bodies like the Airbus 330-340 and Boeing 777. Nobody’s claiming an A380 will stop by, but never say never.
The parallel taxiway stretches the same length, which sounds fancy until you realize it just means planes will spend less time playing bumper cars on the tarmac. With Phase 1, the airport is designed to serve up to 2 million passengers a year. If the planners don’t get bored first, future phases will pack in a dedicated cargo area, a larger passenger terminal, and even a flight academy. Because who wouldn’t want to learn to fly somewhere with brand-new paint on the walls?
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