Tirana International Airport
Lasting Impressions....
"Don't plan to even "stop" there, if you don't have to!!!!!" (?)
"This is definitely the worst airport I have ever encountered in Europe. Tiny, dirty, foul, smoky, no place to sit and barely any space to stand. forget it." (Sean Rorison)
"Albania International Airport is basically two rooms. Think a small bus station somewhere deep in old USSR" (?)
"West educated friends, do not ever go to albania." (dimis)
Good times
by Tony
I traveled to Albanian not long ago and I was impressed with the new changes that are going on around this airport.
The baggage area is better then ever been. I have seen new faces at the counters and security, because the new owners and big firms have kept the ones that qualify for the job, and not someone that was there just because they knew someone. The airport sure is small, but is going to be much bigger and better. Sure the roads are not that great but the old bridge is been demolished and a new one will be in place.
I have read comments that if you want to sleep in the airport you cant because it smells bad and is to loud. What airport isn't loud? Tirana Airport is under new construction at this time, and people should give it time te become what needs to be. Someone had sad that if you want to sleep you can go at the end of the runway and sleep in an old rusty war plane. Well he was wrong. I have been a Mig 15 pilot for 20 years at that airport and NO ONE is allowed to go in that area because is a military zone.
I just want to conclude saying that sure Tirana Rinas Airport is not great at this time, but wait and you will see how it will grow. Just like that child that grows with time. You just have to give it time. FOr whoever enjoys flying, don't miss the opportunity to fly into this airport...Is great.
Not a bad place, but not great either
by nebulouseye
I caught a cheap flight from Rome to Tirana. All of the other passengers - Albanians working or studying in Italy - ran and pushed and shoved each other to get to passport control first. A total mob scene. The officer had never seen a Canadian passport so he called all of his co-workers, a shopkeeper and the cleaning ladies to look at mine.
The airport was very small, with a couple of shops that sold Albanian-language newspapers and books. It was quite clean too. It took only five minutes to get my luggage and a bus to downtown Tirana was waiting outside the exit doors - just beware of the aggressive cabbies who grab your bags and offer expensive rides to Tirana.
Um, you may want to rethink sleeping in this place
by ?
Albania International Airport is basically two rooms. Think a small bus station somewhere deep in old USSR. The cement building has one booth for customs where a guy stamps your passport and you pay 10 to enter the country. You walk ten feet and wait by an open door where a guy throws your luggage from his cart that is parked outside.
You move to the second room that has an x-ray machine in the corner that doesn't work and a single table behind which a uniform officer stands and inspects your luggage for contraband.
Both rooms stink and are filled with cigarette smoke. If you must sleep here, go outside and walk to the end of the runway where the airplane graveyard is. There they have several 1940's and 50's planes that have been sitting there for years. They will offer some shelter and might smell better.
Across the dirt road is a little market stand where you can get some local food. Taxi service is spotty and taxies are 1960's Mercedes.
Airport Guide
Here is some information that we've picked out of from your reviews. Be sure to read the reviews on the next page for the most up-to-date info:
- clean
- recent upgrades over the past few years
- plastic bucket seats
