Air Albania, the national airline in which the Albanian state holds a 10% stake, has completely suspended all flights to Istanbul for the entire week. Since Saturday, December 6th, none of the airline’s aircraft have taken off, causing thousands of passengers to face delays, cancellations, and unplanned travel expenses.
The disruption began quietly. While the airline’s booking system started offering tickets again for Tuesday, December 9th, travel agencies were suddenly informed—at the last moment—that all flights to Istanbul would remain canceled throughout the week. This sudden shutdown left travelers scrambling for alternatives.
Major Travel Chaos for Albanians and Transit Passengers
For many Albanian passengers, Istanbul is not just a destination—it is one of the biggest international transit hubs in Europe and a critical gateway for travelers heading to Asia, America, Africa, and the Middle East. With Air Albania offline, Albanians found themselves forced to:
- Travel to Prishtina (Kosovo)
- Travel to Podgorica (Montenegro)
These detours brought additional transport costs, time lost, and in many cases the risk of missing onward international flights that were originally booked through Istanbul.
Those who had booked direct flights to Istanbul theoretically qualify for refunds, yet many passengers report confusion about refund timelines and procedures.
When Will Flights Resume? Still Uncertain
Sources inside Air Albania told media outlets that flights might resume on Saturday. However, this has not yet been officially confirmed. On the company’s website, the earliest visible flights appear on:
- Friday: One flight at 18:20
- Saturday: Two flights at 07:00 and 18:20
Tirana International Airport (TIA) also confirmed that they have received no official information from Air Albania about the cancellation of operations. They only receive notifications for individual cancelled flights in order to alert passengers.
Pegasus Becomes the Only Carrier — Prices Soar
With Air Albania grounded, the only airline still operating between Tirana and Istanbul is Pegasus Airlines. Although Pegasus is traditionally a low-cost carrier, ticket prices for the next few days have jumped to €70–€100 one way (without baggage), compared to the usual €40–€50.
January prices remain lower, at around €40 one way.
Normally, Air Albania operates 2–3 daily flights to Istanbul, making it one of the busiest international routes for Albanians due to business travel, tourism, and global transit connections.
According to official figures from Tirana International Airport, over 408,000 passengers traveled between Tirana and Istanbul in 2024, making it the sixth busiest international route.
The Real Reason Behind the Disruptions: Turkish Airlines’ Exit
Behind the scenes, the real cause of the operational chaos became clear:
Turkish Airlines has decided to sell its entire 49% stake in Air Albania.
Since the announcement, Turkish Airlines has stopped providing transit ticketing through Air Albania, which is critical for global connections and revenue.
In mid-November, Turkish Airlines publicly declared on the Turkish Public Disclosure Platform (KAP):
“Our Board has decided to sell our entire participation in Air Albania SHPK, where our company holds 49%. Further updates will be shared soon.”
This move effectively leaves Air Albania without its largest strategic partner and operational backbone.
Air Albania’s Decline: From Promising Start to Near Collapse
Air Albania, founded on May 16, 2018, was created as a public-private partnership between Albania and Turkey. The ownership structure has been:
- 49% Turkish Airlines
- ~10% Albcontrol (Albanian state entity)
- ~41% MDN Investment (Albanian private company)
For years, the airline appeared prominently supported by the Albanian government, with big promises such as European expansion, flights to the UK, Italy, and even the United States.
In 2023, Air Albania was the second-largest operator in Albania with 7% market share.
But in 2024, it fell to third place, with only 3.4% of passengers.
Its highest point was in 2021, when it briefly held 18% of the entire Albanian air market.
Financial Troubles: A Company in Deep Losses
Air Albania has never submitted official financial statements. However, tax data show:
- 2021 revenue: 3.8 billion ALL
- 2022 revenue: 5.0 billion ALL
- 2023 revenue: 5.5 billion ALL
- 2024 revenue: approx. 4.0 billion ALL
Despite revenue increases, the company has historically reported large losses, placing it in a condition close to practical bankruptcy.
A Shrinking Network Instead of Expansion
Instead of growing, Air Albania has withdrawn routes:
- A month ago: Milan line shut down
- Now: Istanbul route fully suspended
- Future flights: uncertain
This collapse follows the aggressive competition of low-cost carriers like Wizz Air and Ryanair, which have expanded significantly in Albania.
What Comes Next?
As Turkish Airlines prepares its exit and Air Albania grounds its main route, the future of the national airline remains uncertain. The Istanbul route—critical for business, trade, leisure, and global connections for Albanians—may return soon, but passengers now face rising prices, instability, and decreasing trust in the national carrier.
For now, Albanians must monitor updates closely, especially those traveling during the holiday season or relying on Istanbul as a transit hub.