Tirana, June 12, 2020 - Tirana International Airport (TIA) held a ceremony to celebrate the first charter flight into the country following the easing of restrictions around the COVID-19 pandemic. The charter was flown by Belavia, the flag carrier and national airline of Belarus.

Some 189 tourists arrived on the first flight from Minsk, the Belarus capital, to enjoy Albania’s beaches and wonderful landscapes. 

“We are revving up the engines of the tourism industry today, with this splendid news of 189 tourists coming from Belarus with Belavia Airlines. On behalf of the Tirana International Airport I offer my warmest welcome to them and many other tourists who are being prepared to come and to visit Albania”, said Dr. Constantin von Alvensleben, Chief Executive Officer of Tirana International Airport. 

The scheduled charter flight organized by the tour operators Aler and Aerotravel will operate throughout the summer with a Boeing 737-800, twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays.

"It is a good auspice the arrival of the first tourists in Albania. We hope for the resumption of everything, especially tourism as the main pulse of the country in these very important moments for all of us. By maintaining all COVID-19 protection protocols, it is important to note that the health system is able to cope with any situation. But along with the call for the revival of tourism and the arrival of other charters, we call also for a lot of care and attention to each other ", said Mr. Blendi Klosi, Minister of Tourism and Environment during the ceremony held on this occasion.

Aegean Airlines, the flag carrier of Greece and Austria Airlines, have also announced that its flights to Tirana will start on 15 June 2020.

Since the middle of March, when COVID-19 took hold, TIA traffic has been greatly reduced. However, the Airport remains open for emergencies, humanitarian aid and repatriation flights, of which there are at least one a day. In addition, TIA has one or two cargo flights each day.