December 9, 2024 – Tirana International Airport (TIA) today surpassed the 10 million passenger mark before the end of 2024, setting another historic record. Tirana International Airport is the fastest growing airport in Europe since the pandemic, with a 225% increase compared to 2019.
To mark this extraordinary achievement, the 10 millionth passenger, who arrived in Albania via the Dutch airline Transavia, was welcomed with a special ceremony together with other passengers and crew.
Matin Van Der Meij, the 10 millionth passenger, said that this was not his first visit to Albania, but it was the most surprising because of the special welcome. He said that he was came to Albania by work but soon plans to come with his family for vacations.
The event organized at Tirana International Airport was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, members of the government cabinet, representatives of the diplomatic corps, the media, representatives of airline companies, executives from Kastrati Group and Tirana International Airport.
The Operational Director of Tirana International Airport, Piervittorio Farabbi, shared this achievement with the guests, emphasizing the hard work that has brought about the realization of this objective. ‘To get here,’ said Mr. Farabbi, “we have made important decisions and built innovative strategies to improve the passenger experience. As soon as Kastrati Group took over the management of the airport, it invested in transformation, capacity increase and quality improvement. With around 100 million euros invested in just the first 3 years, the terminal space has tripled and is expected to reach 100 thousand m2 at the end of the project. Our focus remains on sustainable development; the lighting in all areas of the airport is LED, we are increasing electrical equipment for runway operations, and we plan to install photovoltaic panels that will produce 49 MW of energy. We have added 15 thousand square meters to the arrivals area, 6 new stands for aircraft parking, thus reaching 29 in total. We will soon enable the capacity for transoceanic aircraft to enable direct flights to the USA. With over 129 direct destinations, we are the only airport in the region with wide coverage, high frequency and affordable prices. Technological innovations in eGates, third-generation scanners and self-service kiosks, compete with the most developed airports in the world.”Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku praised the continuous development of the airport and its impact on the country’s economy. She added that this result is not only an achievement of the airport but also of Albania, which manages to welcome 10 million passengers before the end of the year. “If it is not invested significantly, we cannot have the achievements we had. Therefore, all the work that has been done at Tirana International Airport, in terms of increasing the terminal capacity, accommodation and above all new technology, must be recognized. 11 million 40 visitors entered our country until November 30th and of all these, imagine 10 million entered through Tirana International Airport. So, 90% of Albania’s presentation at the first moment of entry is done through this gate. In 2025 we have made a commitment to have over 12 million passengers at this airport.”
In a video message, the Director General of the Airports Council of Europe International, Mr. Olivier Jankovec, greeted those present at the ceremony, on this important day for Tirana Airport. “This achievement makes Tirana Airport one of the most prominent airports in terms of growth and expansion of traffic in Europe. Congratulations to Tirana International Airport for the impact that this growth marks on the country’s economy and the development of tourism”
Also, TIA together with WizzAir organized a prize game, where passengers present at the terminal had the opportunity to win dozens of tickets for free flights to various destinations in Europe. The party continued throughout the day with various shows and entertainment programs, transforming the terminal into a festive environment for all passengers.