Kukës International Airport

Kukës International Airport (Albanian: Aeroporti Ndërkombëtar i Kukësit, ICAO: LAKU),[1] also referred to as Kukës Airport (Albanian: Aeroporti i Kukësit), is an airport about 3.5 km (2.2 mi) south of Kukës, Albania. The government of Albania granted permission for it to host international passenger traffic in 2016.[3]

Kukës International Airport

Aeroporti Ndërkombëtar i Kukësit
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerMunicipality Kukës
OperatorMunicipality of Kukës, Bami SHPK, Mechanical SHPK
ServesKukës, Albania
LocationKukës, Albania
Elevation AMSL1,120 ft / 341 m
Coordinates42°1′58.2″N 20°24′53.8″E
Map
LAKU
Location of airport in Albania
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
01/19 1,800 5,906 Paved
[1] Landings.com[2]

The airport is currently undergoing a reconstruction, including a new terminal, control tower, expansion of the apron and runway extension. It is designed to serve as a low-cost airport and expected to be fully operational by 2021.

History

Involvement by the United Arab Emirates in the Kukës area dates back to the Kosovo War (1999).[4] The UAE contributed large amounts of money, humanitarian aid, built a highly efficient refugee camp for Kosovan Albanians and an airstrip for incoming relief supplies at Kukës in Northern Albania.[4] The UAE funded construction of an airport which was completed in 2006 and expected to employ more than 200 people, helping the local economy by opening more touristic opportunities for the region.[5]

Ownership

Kukës Airport will undergo a full reconstruction before being put into operation. All new aerodrome additions and parameters will be constructed to meet the “low cost” standards. A bid was made by the merger of companies "Bami SHPK”, which pledge an investment worth 6.8m euros.

The concession is expected to last for 35 years and will include the extension of the runway, the construction of the fuel supply point of the aircraft, the modernisation of the lighting system and also the expansion of airport terminals. Along with the investment made so far by the United Arab Emirates, the value invested in this work will amount to 24 million euros.[6]

  • Runway at Kukës Airport
  • Panoramic view of Kukës Airport runway with nearby villages.
  • Old Terminal
  • Helicopter landing on Kukës Airport runway

See also

References
  1. "Pilot information for Kukës Airport @ OurAirports". OurAirports.com. Retrieved 9 October 2012.
  2. Airport record for Kukës Airport at Landings.com. Retrieved 1 August 2013
  3. Mejdini, Fatjona (1 April 2016). "Albanians Get to Fly from Second Airport". Balkan Insight.
  4. Dannreuther, Roland (2001). "Perceptions in the Middle East". In Buckley, Mary; Cummings, Sally (eds.). Kosovo: Perceptions of War and Its Aftermath. A&C Black. pp. 208–209. ISBN 9780826456694.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  5. "Albanians Get to Fly from Second Airport :: Balkan Insight". Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  6. "Kukës Airport will operate as "low cost" :: Tv Klan". Retrieved 14 July 2018.


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