February 2 (SeeNews) - Tirana International Airport (TIA), the operator of the airport of Tirana, said on Friday it is collaborating closely with Irish low-cost air carrier Ryanair as it aims to welcome 8.4 million passengers at the airport in 2024.
TIA saw a rise of 40% in passenger numbers in 2023, when it serviced 7.26 million passengers, a record high, it said in a LinkedIn post.
Ryanair will be offering direct flights to 22 destinations from Tirana by the summer of 2024, the air carrier said last week.
The Irish carrier started flights at the airport in October, and according to an earlier statement by TIA, the carrier plans to establish a base there, which the airport is taking into account in its expansion plans.
Albania surpassed the 10 million foreign tourists milestone by the end of 2023, a 35% rise compared to 2022, according to an earlier tourism ministry statement.
Albania had a population of around 2.7 million as of the beginning of 2023, the statistical office said.