Tirana International Airport (TIA) has been selected as one of the finalists for the “Airport of the Year 2026” award, the flagship category of the Airport Honour Awards, organised by International Airport Review.

TIA is one of six airport finalists this year, alongside airports from New York, Munich, Vienna, Pittsburgh and Buenos Aires.

International Airport Review is an international professional platform dedicated to the airport and aviation industry. Through the Airport Honour Awards, it recognises achievements and developments across the airport sector, while finalists are selected through an evaluation process involving aviation industry experts and leaders.

The “Airport of the Year” award recognises overall airport performance in key areas such as operational efficiency, passenger experience, innovation and sustainability.

TIA’s selection as a finalist follows a period of significant transformation and growth, supported by investments undertaken by Kastrati Group over the past five years. From 3.3 million passengers in 2019, the airport surpassed a record 10.7 million passengers in 2024, followed by 11.6 million in 2025, while approximately 13.3 million passengers are forecast to travel through the airport in 2026.

This growth has been accompanied by continued investment in infrastructure and capacity, including investments carried out during 2026. The passenger terminal has tripled in size, additional check-in capacity and new boarding gates have been added, while the runway has been extended to 3,000 metres. Aircraft parking capacity has increased from 7 to 31 stands.

TIA has also invested in technology and improving the passenger experience through biometric facial-recognition systems at border control, advanced security-screening technologies, Fast Track and dedicated Family Lanes, as well as improvements to passenger circulation and terminal facilities.

In the area of sustainability, TIA has achieved Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 3 – Optimization and invested more than €5 million in sustainability initiatives. Renewable energy projects generate approximately 5,700 MWh annually and have contributed to a reduction of 4,443 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.

Today, the airport provides direct connections to approximately 120 destinations through 60 airline partners, strengthening its role in supporting tourism, economic development and Albania’s connectivity with international markets.

Being shortlisted for “Airport of the Year 2026” represents an important international recognition for Tirana International Airport, placing it alongside leading airports and marking another significant milestone for Albania’s profile within the global aviation industry.

Alongside Global Aviation Leaders, Tirana International Airport listed as Finalist for “Airport of the Year 2026”

Tirana, August 2026 – Tirana International Airport (TIA) has been listed as finalist for the “Airport of the Year 2026” award, the flagship category of the Airport Honour Awards, organised by International Airport Review.

TIA is one of six airport finalists this year, alongside airports from New York, Munich, Vienna, Pittsburgh and Buenos Aires.

International Airport Review is an international professional platform dedicated to the airport and aviation industry. Through the Airport Honour Awards, it recognises achievements and developments across the airport sector, with finalists selected through an evaluation process involving aviation industry experts and leaders.

The “Airport of the Year” award recognises overall airport performance across key areas including operational efficiency, passenger experience, innovation and sustainability.

TIA’s selection as a finalist follows a period of significant transformation and growth, supported by investments undertaken by Kastrati Group over the past five years. From 3.3 million passengers in 2019, the airport surpassed a record 10.7 million passengers in 2024, followed by 11.6 million in 2025, while approximately 13.3 million passengers are forecast to travel through the airport in 2026.

This growth has been supported by continued investment in infrastructure and capacity, including further developments delivered throughout 2026. The passenger terminal has tripled in size, additional check-in capacity and new boarding gates have been introduced, while the runway has been extended to 3,000 meters. Aircraft parking capacity has increased from 7 to 31 stands.

TIA has also invested in technology and passenger experience, introducing biometric facial recognition systems at border control, advanced security screening technologies, Fast Track and dedicated Family Lanes, as well as improvements to passenger circulation and terminal facilities.

In the area of sustainability, TIA has achieved Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 3 – Optimization and invested more than €5 million in sustainability initiatives. Renewable energy projects generate approximately 5,700 MWh annually and have contributed to a reduction of 4,443 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.

Today, the airport provides direct connections to approximately 120 destinations through 60 airline partners, strengthening its role in supporting tourism, economic development and Albania’s connectivity with international markets.

Being shortlisted for “Airport of the Year 2026” represents an important international recognition for Tirana International Airport, placing it alongside leading airports and marking another significant milestone for Albania’s profile within the global aviation industry.

The post Tirana International Airport Among Finalists for “Airport of the Year 2026 appeared first on Albeu.com.

TIA është një nga gjashtë aeroportet finaliste të këtij viti, përkrah aeroporteve të Nju Jorkut, Mynihut, Vjenës, Pittsburghut dhe Buenos Airesit.

International Airport Review është një platformë profesionale ndërkombëtare, e dedikuar industrisë së aeroporteve dhe aviacionit. Përmes Airport Honour Awards, ajo vlerëson arritjet dhe zhvillimet në sektorin aeroportual, ndërsa finalistët përzgjidhen përmes një procesi vlerësimi nga ekspertë dhe drejtues të industrisë së aviacionit.

Çmimi “Aeroporti i Vitit” vlerëson performancën e përgjithshme të aeroporteve në fusha kyçe si efikasiteti operacional, eksperienca e pasagjerëve, inovacioni dhe qëndrueshmëria.

Përzgjedhja e TIA-s mes finalistëve vjen pas një periudhe transformimi dhe rritjeje të konsiderueshme, falë investimeve të ndërmarra nga Grupi Kastrati në pesë vitet e fundit. Nga 3.3 milionë pasagjerë në vitin 2019, aeroporti kapërceu shifrën rekord prej 10.7 milionë pasagjerësh në vitin 2024, për të vijuar me 11.6 milionë në vitin 2025, ndërsa për vitin 2026 parashikohet që aeroporti t’u shërbejë rreth 13.3 milionë pasagjerëve.

Kjo rritje është shoqëruar me investime të vazhdueshme në infrastrukturë dhe kapacitete, përfshirë edhe investimet e realizuara gjatë vitit 2026. Terminali i pasagjerëve është trefishuar në madhësi, janë shtuar kapacitetet e reja të check-in-it dhe portat e reja të imbarkimit, ndërsa pista është zgjatur në 3,000 metra. Kapaciteti i pozicioneve të parkimit të avionëve është rritur nga 7 në 31 pozicione.

TIA ka investuar gjithashtu në teknologji dhe në përmirësimin e eksperiencës së pasagjerëve, përmes sistemeve biometrike të njohjes së fytyrës në kontrollin kufitar, teknologjive të avancuara të kontrollit të sigurisë, linjave të kalimit të shpejtë dhe atyre të dedikuara familjeve, si dhe përmirësimit të qarkullimit dhe hapësirave në terminal.

Në fushën e qëndrueshmërisë, TIA ka arritur Nivelin 3 – Optimization të Airport Carbon Accreditation dhe ka investuar mbi 5 milionë euro në iniciativa të qëndrueshmërisë. Projektet e energjisë së rinovueshme gjenerojnë rreth 5,700 MWh në vit dhe kanë kontribuar në reduktimin e 4,443 tonëve CO₂.

Sot, aeroporti lidhet drejtpërdrejt me rreth 120 destinacione përmes 60 kompanive ajrore partnere, duke forcuar rolin e tij në zhvillimin e turizmit, ekonomisë dhe lidhjen e Shqipërisë me tregjet ndërkombëtare.

Përzgjedhja në finalen e “Aeroportit të Vitit 2026” përfaqëson një vlerësim të rëndësishëm ndërkombëtar për Aeroportin Ndërkombëtar të Tiranës, duke e vendosur atë përkrah aeroporteve elitare dhe duke shënuar një tjetër moment të rëndësishëm për imazhin e Shqipërisë në industrinë globale të aviacionit.

Alongside Global Aviation Leaders, Tirana International Airport listed as Finalist for “Airport of the Year 2026”

Tirana, August 2026 – Tirana International Airport (TIA) has been listed as finalist for the “Airport of the Year 2026” award, the flagship category of the Airport Honour Awards, organised by International Airport Review.

TIA is one of six airport finalists this year, alongside airports from New York, Munich, Vienna, Pittsburgh and Buenos Aires.

International Airport Review is an international professional platform dedicated to the airport and aviation industry. Through the Airport Honour Awards, it recognises achievements and developments across the airport sector, with finalists selected through an evaluation process involving aviation industry experts and leaders.

The “Airport of the Year” award recognises overall airport performance across key areas including operational efficiency, passenger experience, innovation and sustainability.

TIA’s selection as a finalist follows a period of significant transformation and growth, supported by investments undertaken by Kastrati Group over the past five years. From 3.3 million passengers in 2019, the airport surpassed a record 10.7 million passengers in 2024, followed by 11.6 million in 2025, while approximately 13.3 million passengers are forecast to travel through the airport in 2026.

This growth has been supported by continued investment in infrastructure and capacity, including further developments delivered throughout 2026. The passenger terminal has tripled in size, additional check-in capacity and new boarding gates have been introduced, while the runway has been extended to 3,000 meters. Aircraft parking capacity has increased from 7 to 31 stands.

TIA has also invested in technology and passenger experience, introducing biometric facial recognition systems at border control, advanced security screening technologies, Fast Track and dedicated Family Lanes, as well as improvements to passenger circulation and terminal facilities.

In the area of sustainability, TIA has achieved Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 3 – Optimization and invested more than €5 million in sustainability initiatives. Renewable energy projects generate approximately 5,700 MWh annually and have contributed to a reduction of 4,443 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.

Today, the airport provides direct connections to approximately 120 destinations through 60 airline partners, strengthening its role in supporting tourism, economic development and Albania’s connectivity with international markets.

Being shortlisted for “Airport of the Year 2026” represents an important international recognition for Tirana International Airport, placing it alongside leading airports and marking another significant milestone for Albania’s profile within the global aviation industry.

The post Aeroporti Ndërkombëtar i Tiranës mes finalistëve për çmimin “Aeroporti i Vitit 2026” appeared first on Albeu.com.

Në Tiranë, procesi i identifikimit të udhëtarëve është automatizuar në nivele të larta.

Çdo qytetar që hyn në Shqipëri mjafton të vendosë pasaportën në sistemet automatike dhe verifikimi përfundon brenda pak sekondash, pa krijuar radhë apo vonesa.

E njëjta procedurë aplikohet edhe në dalje për qytetarët e Bashkimit Europian, Shteteve të Bashkuara dhe Kanadasë, ndërsa numri i lartë i sporteleve dhe kontrollorëve bën që fluksi të menaxhohet pa bllokime.

Ky model është vlerësuar edhe ndërkombëtarisht. Gazetari britanik Simon Calder, në një raportim për CNN, e cilësoi eksperiencën në Tiranë si një nga më efikaset në rajon.

“Unë sapo jam kthyer nga Tirana, që ka një aeroport të mrekullueshëm. M’u deshën vetëm 5 sekonda për procesin e identifikimit. Vendosa pasaportën dhe kalova menjëherë”, u shpreh ai, duke e krahasuar me situatën problematike që po përjetojnë aktualisht aeroportet europiane.

Investimet e Kastrati Group gjatë viteve të fundit në Tirana International Airport (TIA) kanë modernizuar infrastrukturën dhe kanë rritur kapacitetet për përpunimin e pasagjerëve.

Paralelisht, rritja e numrit të linjave ajrore, veçanërisht kompanive low-cost si Ryanair dhe Wizz Air, e ka kthyer Tiranën në një pikë kyçe për udhëtarët në rajon.

Me çmime konkurruese dhe destinacione të reja që shtohen vazhdimisht, aeroporti po tërheq jo vetëm pasagjerë shqiptarë, por edhe udhëtarë nga Maqedonia e Veriut dhe Mali i Zi.

Në kontrast me problemet që po shfaqen në shumë aeroporte të BE-së, rasti i Tiranës po shihet si një shembull se si investimi në teknologji dhe organizim mund të përkthehet në shërbim më të shpejtë dhe efikas për udhëtarët.

The post “Kalova për 5 sekonda”: Gazetari i njohur britanik në CNN, merr TIA-n si shembull efektiviteti dhe avancimi teknologjik appeared first on Albeu.com.