21. January 2025
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Tirana Airport (TIA)

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Tirana Airport (TIA)

Tirana Airport (TIA)
3.9

Rating

 3.9/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Very nice, modern services
  • Very good landside area

Flyctory.com Cons

  • Remote location
  • Strongly increasing demand for travel is causing issues

In December 2022, I had my very first visit to Albania. The trip was, of course, by air, so that Tirana International Airport (TIA) was my first step into the country. The airport is called Aeroporti Nderkombetar i Tiranes “Nene Tereza” in local language. Here is my review.

 

Tirana Airport (TIA) – Location & Transport

Tirana Airport (TIA) is located some 20 kilometers North of the Albanian capital. It is located South of the city of Rinas. There are numerous hotels right at the terminal. The location is a bit of remote.

Driving distance is, depending on the traffic, roughly 30 minutes. A taxi connection is roughly 20 Euro. There is also a bus shuttle service, which is roughly 4 Euro one-way. I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Tirana, which is a bit away from the city center, so that I opted for the taxi option.

 

Tirana Airport (TIA) – Connections

Of course, there are first of all connections by the two local airlines, Albawings and Air Albania. There are, of course, majorly connections to the Balkan region, Greece or Italy. Overall, though, Tirana Aiport (TIA) is well connected to places all over Europe.The most popular destination in 2023 were the London Airports, though. Major airlines apart from the local players are the two major European low cost airlines, Ryanair and Wizzair. There are a few flights to the Middle East region. However, apart from those and Mediterranean connections, there are typically no intercontinental connections. There are also no domestic connections from Tirana Airport (TIA), so that all passengers run through the same processes.

 

Arriving at Tirana Airport (TIA)

I arrived late in the evening with Lufthansa from Frankfurt Airport (FRA). The airport did not offer jet bridges, so that there was a short bus transfer to the terminal. However, air bridges were already under construction. Passport control (Albania is not a Schengen country) was rather effective. The airport has rather effective, fit for the size arrival services like luggage belts. Typically, there are also services offering local SIM cards and similar services for visitors. However, my flight was rather late so that these services are closed. The airport also features multiple local and international car rental options.

 

Departing from Tirana Airport (TIA)

In line with the season I had my flights in there was Christmas decoration all over the terminal. Tirana Airport (TIA) has quite an impressing range of shopping opportunities before security control. Right outside the terminal, there is also a food court with some restaurants (including fast food). Check-in was effective. However, in December 2022, I was not able to do online check-in with Lufthansa from this airport.

A funny thing was the emigration, where local passports had been checked by a border control officer, while EU and US-American travelers could use an automated passport control. The terminal is actually quite nice. However, due to the massive increase of touristic activities in Albania, Tirana Airport (TIA) is more and more running into capacity issues. Seating was rather packed on an early Sunday afternoon. The shopping opportunities on the airside side behind security control were nice, starting from local produces to limited more posh options. Popular sales were, of course, alcohol and tobacco. Boarding was done by buses again. The flight had a delay, but this was not caused by the Albanian airport, but due to issues in Frankfurt.

 

Tirana Airport (TIA) – Services

The people at Tirana Airport (TIA) have been overall very effective and friendly. There is also a lounge, which was a really nice experience. The lounge review is quoted below.

VIP Business Lounge Tirana Airport (TIA)

 

Tirana Airport (TIA) – My View

Tirana Airport (TIA) does have a bit of location issues. The trip from the heart of the capital only works well by bus, if you have a very central hotel. It will be interesting how travel to the Southern European is developing and if Tirana Airport (TIA) can cope with the almost exploding demand for travel to the country. Overall, it is a nice place, though.

 

Flyctory.com in Albania

Here are all my postings related to Albania:

 

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