Vlorë International Airport

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Vlorë International Airport

Aeroporti Ndërkombëtar i Vlorës
Akërnia airfield close to Novoselë.jpg
Old Akerni Airfield in 2010
Summary
Airport typePublic
ServesVlorë
LocationAkerni
Coordinates40°36′25.7″N 19°25′41.6″E / 40.607139°N 19.428222°E / 40.607139; 19.428222 (Vlorë Airport)Coordinates: 40°36′25.7″N 19°25′41.6″E / 40.607139°N 19.428222°E / 40.607139; 19.428222 (Vlorë Airport)

Vlorë International Airport is an airport project expected to start construction in 2021, in the Vjosa-Narta Protected Area, 10 km north of the city of Vlorë in Albania. This will be the third international airport in Albania after Tirana International Airport and Kukës International Airport. In addition to the construction of the airport, the project includes a marina and agri-tourism site. The building of the Vlora Airport inside the Vjosa-Narta Protected Area, is in contradiction with national laws and international biodiversity protection conventions that Albania has ratified. The Vjosa-Narta Protected Area is a candidate for the Emerald site network, which provides shelter to more than 62 species of birds listed in the EU Birds directive. [1] The Bern Convention called on the Albanian Government to review the plans to build an airport inside the Vjosa-Narta Protected Area.[2] The new airport is planned to accommodate wide-body aircraft and will be the biggest airport in the country.[3] It is expected to have a major impact on economic growth and tourism, but on the other hand, a grave negative impact on the biodiversity of the area as the airport will be located entirely in the Narta Lagoon, which is a protected area .[4] Environmentalists have expressed their concern about the possible collision of airplanes with birds, as Narta Lagoon is a major breeding and living place of migratory birds.

History[]

Proposal of the Terminal

On 17 January 2018, the Turkish-consortium that is building the Istanbul New Airport offered to build Vlorë Airport in a regional project that also paves the way for Albania to set up its national flag carrier (Air Albania) and reduce current ticket prices. The Turkish joint venture consortium of Cengiz-Kolin-Limak-Mapa-Kalyon offered to build the airport as part of the assistance the Albanian government has been receiving from the Turkish government and Turkish Airlines.[5] However, the Turkish consortium decided to withdraw from the initiative a year later.[6]

In September 2019, a new project was unveiled by the Albanian Government consisting in the construction of a marina and retail complex including an agri-tourism site.[7] The project is expected to start in the summer of 2021, and finish by 2023.

The tender for the construction of the airport was temporarily suspended by the Albanian government on 31 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]

A consortium made up of Behgjet Pacolli's Mabco Constructions, the Turkish YDA Group and the Kosovar 2A Group Shpk was the winner of the international tender and the contract was signed on 20 April 2021.[9] Prior to the commencement of the construction of the airport, environment and archaeological studies will be carried out. The construction of the airport will take 36 months and the project includes the construction of a 3.2 km runway, hangar for aircraft maintenance and cargo service.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Albania Report 2021". European Commission. European Commission. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Complaint No. 2016/5: Open File: Albania: Presumed negative impact of hydro-power plant development on the Vjosa river" (PDF). Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Vlora airport, the Albanian government presents the new project". albanianews.it.
  4. ^ "Vlora Airport Project to Take-off Soon :: Invest in Albania". Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Turkish consortium bids to build Vlora airport as Albania prepares to launch national carrier:: Tirana Times". Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  6. ^ "After Erdoğan's Defeat, Turkish Consortium Withdraws from Vlora Airport Project". Exit.al.
  7. ^ "Albania invites bids for Vlora airport construction project". SEE News.
  8. ^ "Albania suspends tender for Vlora airport construction". seenews.com. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
  9. ^ "Albania signs 104 million-euro deal to build new airport". The Washington Post. Retrieved 20 April 2021.

External links[]

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