- Tirana International Airport (TIA) has recorded the highest cumulative passenger growth among major European airports — an impressive +250% compared to 2019, far surpassing the European average of 5.2%. This achievement has positioned TIA as one of the fastest-growing air hubs in the region, according to data published by ACI Europe.
The milestone sparked congratulations and commentary from aviation experts on LinkedIn.
Mihail Blagomirov, legal advisor and route development manager at Plovdiv International Airport, praised TIA’s strategic approach and resilience:
“Their dedication, resilience, and strategic efforts have turned challenges into opportunities — setting an inspiring example for the entire aviation community,” wrote Blagomirov.
Responding to his post, Piervittorio Farabbi, CEO of Tirana Airport, highlighted the airport’s impressive connectivity growth:
“Thanks to Mihail and the AIR SERVICE ONE team for showcasing TIA’s growth trajectory, confirmed by a 56% increase in air connectivity. These changes were primarily driven by the expansion of low-cost carrier traffic, but were made possible by an aggressive investment plan that has been largely implemented — and is still ongoing,” Farabbi said.
TIA Enters the Top 50 Largest European Airports
An additional boost came from the latest ACI Europe report for August 2025, which revealed that Tirana Airport has, for the first time, joined the Top 50 largest airports in Europe.
Farabbi emphasized that this is a major acknowledgment of the professionalism and dedication of TIA employees, as well as excellent cooperation with all partners in the aviation industry, including the Albanian Civil Aviation Authority and ALBCONTROL SH.A.
According to ACI data, among major airports, TIA posted the highest cumulative passenger growth since 2019 — +250%, compared to the European average of just 5.2%.
In the Top 5 major airports by annual passenger traffic growth in August 2025, TIA ranked fifth with +13.5% compared to 2024, behind Tel Aviv, Krakow, Antalya, and Warsaw.
Regional Impact: Rising Number of Montenegrin Passengers
Reflecting its growing regional significance, TIA has recorded a strong influx of passengers from Montenegro.
As Farabbi previously told Bankar, around 76,000 Montenegrin passports were registered at Tirana Airport in the first six months of this year.
This figure confirms that, in addition to its infrastructural and strategic investments, TIA functions not only as Albania’s national airport but also as a regional air hub attracting travelers from neighboring countries.
