FLASH
Shkruar nga Irena Beqiraj
As always in "Jobs for Albania", there is no need for competition...
The airline of the red and black flag, "Air Albania", which according to the Prime Minister was "a national work", as "the Albanian state could not feel fully realized if it neglected its position on the map and in the towers of the countries where Albanians travel", was founded in 2018.
Although the era of national flag carriers was over and Albania had once experienced bankruptcy, the image of a "global leader" could not be complete by traveling on economy tickets, as he and his ministers promised us they would in 2013.
Therefore, in June 2018, the procedures for establishing Air Albania began. It was not simply state-owned, as is usually the case with the creation of flag carriers in the world or in Europe, but had three partners: from the Albanian side, “Albcontrol” with 10%, as well as two other entities, “Turkish Airlines” and “MDN Investment”, with 49% and 41%, respectively.
International media commented on the Albanian government's partnership with Sinan Idrizi, of the company "MDN Investment", which owned 41% of the shares in Air Albania, as unclear, as "he did not have any experience in this field nor the necessary financial resources to invest in this sector."
Air Albania also became a major concern for Dutch MP Pieter Omtzigt. In a letter to his foreign minister, on the eve of a visit to Tirana and in relation to PPPs, he asked:
“How do you assess the fact that the Albanian government violated the Stabilization and Association Agreement between the EU and Albania, as in the case of the construction of the new airport in Vlora and the establishment of Air Albania, and that the contracts were awarded directly, without open competition, to Turkish companies, the Albanian state company and the (suspicious) private Albanian company, which was created nine days ago and has no experience in the field of aviation?”
But, as always in “Work for Albania”, there is no need for competition. Local and international dogs that do not want the good of the country bark, while the Prime Minister’s caravan moves forward. And for this caravan to move forward, Albanians, with the faith and patience that characterizes them, had to wait until, after “Lasgush” covering Istanbul and “Migjen” flying to Italy, “Naimi” would spread its wings towards European destinations, as well as “Imzot Noli” for the direct Albania-America line.
"Furthermore, the expansion of the fleet with others will continue, based on the success of the first phase, but it is better to let time tell us and speak," the Prime Minister said with conviction.
It didn't take long and time spoke. Air Albania ceased operations approximately eight months ago, after the aviation authority suspended its license. The airline is currently in liquidation.
In November 2025, Turkish Airlines issued a stock exchange announcement regarding the “sale of our partnership shares in Air Albania.”
Meanwhile, around 100 million euros in unpaid liabilities have been accumulated by the company, including payments for rent, airport fees, fuel and catering; of these, 35 million euros will be paid by the Albanian government.
Well, time has spoken! It showed us that "Ismaili", the Prime Minister's private charter, which took off 252 times, did not allow either "Lasgushi", "Migjen", or "Naimi" to continue their flights, while "Imzot Noli" failed to take off.
We will definitely leave "Works for Albania" to time, as time is the best teacher, but we must not forget that it kills all its weak students.
Ju kujtoni se Ramovicit i plas per BE, ai e di se ne BE do hetohet deri ne rrenje, prandaj hajdutet e shqiptareve si Sal Karaxhici, Ilir Metici, e Ed Vucici thone inshallah nuk pranohet shqiperia ne BE, e te bejne cfare u do palla me shqiptaret e tredhur nga Enver Hoxha, e lapangjozet e kopilat e Bllokut.
Vertet, ketu Rama ka deshtuar plotesishte dhe eshte tregu hajn. Ndoshta Spak-u ketu mund te nderhyre. Rama nje hajn si gjithe te tjeret.
A thote kjo se nuk po e marrim vesh. Kjo sipermarrje ishte thjesht teke e rames, sic tallet me satelitet apo me te tjera bema