Albania signs deal for airport upgrade in northern Kukes

China Everbright

20/03/2019 19:15

TIRANA, March 20 (Reuters) - The Albanian government has
signed a 35-year concession with two domestic companies to
overhaul and operate an airport at the northernmost town of
Kukes, an official said on Wednesday.
    Transport Minister Belinda Balluku said the government had
approved the contract with Global Technical Mechanics and Bami,
requiring them to invest 8 million euros ($9.1 million) to
upgrade the airport and to start flights at Kukes in 24 months. 
    She said preliminary studies forecast 300,000 passengers
would fly out of Kukes initially and low-cost carriers such as
Wizz Air  WIZZ.L , easyJet  EZJ.L , Ryanair  RYA.I  and Turkey's
Pegasus had shown interest.
    The small airport was built with a gift of $20 million
dollars from the United Arab Emirates in recognition of
Albania's hospitality to refugees who sought safety from
war-torn Kosovo at Kukes in 1999.
    Since its completion in 2006 the airport has not been used
because Tirana International Airport (TIA) had exclusive rights
to international flights. Operated by China Everbright  0165.HK 
since October 2016, TIA waived that exclusivity in April that
year.    
($1 = 0.8810 euros)

 (Reporting by Benet Koleka
Editing by David Goodman)
 ((benet.koleka@thomsonreuters.com; +355 44 50 48 78 ; Reuters
Messaging: Benet.Koleka.reuters.com@reuters.net))