Tender for PPP/Concession Deal on Kukes Airport

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy said on Thursday it is inviting bids for a public-private partnership (PPP) or concession contract for the reconstruction, operation and maintenance of Kukes airport. The proposed term of the concession contract or public-private partnership agreement will be 35 years, the ministry said in a tender notice. The deadline for submission of bids is December 10. The Kukes airport, in northeastern Albania, will mainly service flights of low-cost carriers, Prime Minister Edi Rama said in April. Currently, Tirana International Airport "Mother Teresa" is Albania's only operational airport. The Albanian government has already started negotiations with a Turkish consortium for the construction of an airport near the southwestern port city of Vlora, an investment estimated at Euro 100 million, following the approval of the project by the Albanian parliament in February. One of the main priorities of Albanian authorities is to start operations in Kukes Airport. In early 2018, it was said that the airport would start operations in autumn and turn into the second functional airport of Albania. However, PM Rama said in the latest statement about the airport that it is expected to start operation in spring 2019. Albanian authorities also confirmed that several low-cost companies expressed interest in the northern airport, in the meantime, it will be an alternative to the highly expensive airfares that Albanians and international citizens pay for traveling from TIA. Currently, cheaper flight alternatives are offered by regional airports in  Skopje, Podgorica, or Pristina.

Source: ATA