The Development Masterplan has paved way for fast-track building work to construct Kukes Airport in northeast Albania, which is expected to be ready to host initial flights next year. Currently, the foundations of the Kukes Airport’s new passenger terminal have been laid, a completely steel structure building, while intense work is underway to expand the runway, creation of the airport’s soft spots on taxiways along with their critical underground infrastructure, as well as to double the aircraft parking areas.

Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Belinda Balluku, inspected the construction site of this major infrastructure project for the whole northeast region of the country.

“So far the building work has progressed satisfactorily according to plan. The runway is extended by 550 metres. No problems have been encountered regarding the expropriation process,” Infrastructure Minister Balluku said.

Balluku also said that several old buildings of the airport that encroached on the airspace needed for aircraft operations have been demolished as they didn’t required international standards.

“After the masterplan developed by a Dutch company commissioned by the concessionary firm we had to remove all old buildings inside the airport’s territory as they hampered construction work. The previous aircraft parking areas were very narrow and that’s why work is underway to expand them, whereas the passenger terminal has been diverted and a new terminal is being built, which will be a light-weight glass and steel structure, just like any other modern passenger terminal,” the Infrastructure Minister noted.

Work has also kicked off to develop a masterplan for the development of the entire area’s infrastructure and related services.

“We are exploring projects to provide power and water supply to the whole area.  I also believe that in collaboration with the Kukes Municipality will have to design a plan on studying the whole area, since once the airport construction completes, the area will need more economic and social development projects, including hotels, public parking lots and other necessary services,” Minister Balluku said.

On his part, PM Rama noted that the area’s new masterplan, which should involve local government too, will give a fresh impetus to the development of the local economy and tourism in this region.

“Construction of the airport brings with it the need for more services, not only transport, but also hotels and other related services. Therefore, we will cooperate with the Municipality to develop a general masterplan help Kukes and entire surrounding area experience a significant economic boom. It will also help mountainous tourism develop. This is an isolated and little explored area due to the lack of access, but with the masterplan and more projects it will experience significant development,” PM Rama said.

According to the Infrastructure Minister, new projects in Kukes will create around 12,000 jobs, with 1500 of them due to be created at Kukes Airport.

According to the project managers, the project has progressed as planned and the airport’s construction is expected to complete within next year. “With the navigation part complete and with the masterplan already submitted, the construction work will go on much faster. I am confident we will definitely meet the deadline and the first airplane will land in the new Kukes airport next year.”

Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Belinda Balluku, added that work to construct Vlora international airport will also kick off this year.