Kastrati Group Plans Major Investment in Tirana Airport Expansion

The Albanian business group Kastrati Group is preparing a significant financial commitment aimed at expanding the country’s main aviation hub, with planned investment (investim i planifikuar) reaching 152 million euro over the 2026–2028 period. The company is the sole owner of the concessionaire operating Tirana International Airport, positioning it as the central actor in the airport’s ongoing development.

Prior to this new phase, the group had already allocated substantial resources to the airport. By 2025, infrastructure investment (investim në infrastrukturë) had totaled 110 million euro, reflecting a continuous effort to modernize facilities and improve operational standards. The new funding is expected to build on these earlier upgrades, reinforcing long-term capacity expansion.

One of the primary objectives of the project is the enlargement of passenger handling capabilities. Plans include terminal expansion (zgjerimi i terminalit) to approximately 40,000 square metres, a move designed to address increasing traffic volumes. At the same time, improvements in security systems (sistemet e sigurisë) are being implemented to meet higher operational and regulatory requirements.

Passenger traffic data underscores the need for these developments. The airport recorded passenger growth (rritja e pasagjerëve) of 11.6 million travelers in 2025, representing an 8.7% increase compared to the previous year. This upward trend highlights sustained demand and reinforces the rationale behind expanding both infrastructure and services.

The ownership and operational structure of the airport has evolved over time. The concessionaire was originally established in 2005 through an agreement involving international partners, including HOCHTIEF AirPort, DEG Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft, and the Albanian-American Enterprise Fund. In 2016, full ownership was transferred to China Everbright Limited before Kastrati Group acquired the concession for 71 million euro in 2020, marking a shift toward domestic control.

At the time of publication, a company representative had not provided additional details regarding the investment plan. However, the outlined strategy indicates a continued focus on scaling operations and adapting to rising passenger demand through targeted capacity development (zhvillimi i kapacitetit) and long-term infrastructure planning.

Key Albanian Vocabulary

investim i planifikuar planned investment
investim në infrastrukturë infrastructure investment
zgjerimi i terminalit terminal expansion
sistemet e sigurisë security systems
rritja e pasagjerëve passenger growth
zhvillimi i kapacitetit capacity development

Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza, the primary gateway to Albania, named in honor of the Roman Catholic nun and missionary Mother Teresa.