TIRANA (Albania), November 1 (SeeNews) – The airport in Kukes, in northeastern Albania, will become operational by autumn 2019, Prime Minister Edi Rama said.
A contract for the reconstruction and maintenance of the airport is expected to be signed by December 2018 or January next year, PM Rama said in a video file streamed live on his Facebook page earlier this week.
The project for the reconstruction of Kukes airport envisages the extension of the runway and an upgrade of the terminal building, Rama said, adding that the airport will mainly service flights of low-cost carriers.
Earlier this month, Albania's infrastructure ministry said it is inviting bids for a public-private partnership (PPP) or concession contract for the reconstruction, operation and maintenance of Kukes airport.
The proposed term of the concession contract or public-private partnership agreement will be 35 years, the ministry said in a tender notice.
The deadline for submission of bids is December 10.
Currently, Tirana International Airport Mother Teresa is Albania's only operational airport.
The Albanian government has already started negotiations with a Turkish consortium for the construction of an airport near the southwestern port city of Vlora, an investment estimated at 100 million euro ($123.5 million), following the approval of the project by the Albanian parliament in February.
($ = 0.87998 euro)