For the first time since post-war, Kosovo-Albania air corridor opens

For the first time since the post-war air corridor has been opened between Kosovo and Albania, thanks to an agreement that has been reached today between the Air Navigation Services Agency ( A And Albcontrol.

This agreement, thanks to NATO support, has been praised as a major achievement between Kosovo and Albania for opening air traffic, which will be useful for both countries.

ASNA Director Bahri Nuredini said a letter of agreement has been reached for opening the air corridor between Tirana and Pristina, which according to him is like the forerunner of numerous meetings which are led by NATO.

Nuredin expects that the cost of flying will be reduced besides cutting travel time.

This corridor's “Bennefes of functionality are large for passengers, as well as for aviokompanies that will have a lower cost of round-the-clock operations, where flights from Pristina will be cut for 15 minutes”, Nuredini stressed.

A Director The USNA also expects agreements on air traffic normalisation to be reached this year, as well as Montenegro and Serbia.

“Of course NATO and KFOR have been the main drivers to reach this agreement on normalising low air space with states in the region, in this case also with Albania. The agreement will enable us in the next steps we as ASNA have for reaching the agreement, even with the authorities of Podgorica and Belgrade, where I believe that soon within the year these two agreements will be reached for opening air corridors with neighbouring states. So, Kosovo, after a 21-year hope to complete this process this year and we expect Kosovo to be part of the Western Balkans for normalising air traffic”, he said.

While, Dritan Gjonbalaj chairman of Albania's Civil Aviation Authority Board said the Republic of Albania as a key regional factor has co-operated with its allies for normalising aviation in the Balkans, in particular for normalising airspace with Kosovo.

Gjonbalaj hopes that this agreement will not remain on paper alone but will be implemented as soon as possible.

The civil aviation has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, but this event today proves that we are stronger than the challenges. The Republic of Albania as a key regional factor has co-operated very much with allies for the normalisation of aviation in the Balkans, and in particular for normalising airspace with Kosovo. Our experts have worked hard to reach this agreement in full co-ordination with NATO and with the Albanian government's unreserved support. We pledge, we are committed that this agreement will not remain on paper but will be implemented very quickly for opening the air corridor between the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Kosovo”, Gjonbalaj said.

We remember that since after the war the only air traffic open to civilian aviation has been the one with northern Macedonia.