Tirana International Airport launches direct flights between Tirana and Toronto, Canada

Tirana, 19 June 2026 – Tirana International Airport (TIA) today announced the launch of the first direct flight to Toronto, Canada. This route marks a historic achievement for Albania’s aviation industry, as it is the first transatlantic flight in the country’s history.

The Airbus A330-200 aircraft, arriving from Toronto, landed at TIA at 13:30 and was welcomed during a special ceremony attended by Albania’s Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Mr. Enea Karakaçi, along with senior representatives of Kastrati Group and TIA. At 16:00, the inaugural flight departed from Tirana to Toronto, opening a new chapter in strengthening economic and cultural cooperation between Albania and Canada.

Air Transat, recognized by Skytrax World Airline Awards as the “World’s Best Leisure Airline,” is TIA’s newest airline partner and will operate one weekly flight through 8 September 2026.

The launch of this route is dedicated to long-haul travel and guarantees a comfortable journey with modern services and high standards. This partnership represents an important step in expanding TIA’s network of direct destinations and enhancing air connectivity between Albania and North America.

The direct flights between Albania and Canada are expected to have an impact that extends beyond Albania’s borders, serving as a gateway connecting North America with the wider Western Balkans region.

Thanks to the continued investments of Kastrati Group, Tirana International Airport has been transformed into one of the region’s fastest-growing airports and now meets the standards of modern aviation for intercontinental operations.

Piervittorio Farabbi, Chief Operating Officer of Tirana International Airport “Nënë Tereza,” which welcomed the Air Transat service between Toronto and Tirana, stated:

“This first intercontinental flight marks a turning point for Albania’s air connectivity. TIA’s first direct link to North America opens a strategic gateway to the Western Atlantic, bringing Albania closer not only to communities and one of its most important diasporas, but also creating new opportunities for inbound tourism and investment. This route responds to growing international interest in Albania and demonstrates the confidence our global partners place in the Albanian market. We are proud to partner with Air Transat on this historic route and look forward to its success.”

Howard Liebman, Vice President of Commercial Partnerships at Air Transat, said:

“As the only airline offering a non-stop service between North America and Tirana, we are delighted to bring our service to this unique route. Albania is rapidly becoming one of Europe’s most attractive destinations, combining competitive prices with natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and warm hospitality. This route reflects our confidence in the long-term potential of the Albanian market and our strategy to develop value-added routes that improve connectivity and strengthen transatlantic networks.”

Prime Minister of Albania, Mr. Edi Rama, stated that Tirana Airport’s figures are extraordinary:

“Tirana Airport is today the fastest-growing airport in Europe due to the increase in passenger numbers, from a very different figure in the ninth year, from 2016 to 2025, and this development is the result of the extraordinary work carried out at the airport. In 2016, when I first entered office, together with the comprehensive transformation and modernization of civil aviation, there were only 2.2 million passengers. Ten years later, passenger numbers reached 13.7 million and flights increased to 82,000. We project that this figure will exceed 100,000 by the end of the decade.”

He added:

“It is not only passenger growth, but also service quality improvements. Tirana Airport is among the first airports in Europe to have no physical check-in or check-out counters. Today we are opening a new chapter in the airport’s digital transformation and modernization, introducing digital gates that allow passengers with Albanian biometric passports to pass through without any manual control.”

Blendi Gonxhja, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports, noted:

“On 30 May, Tirana International Airport ‘Nënë Tereza’ recorded the highest passenger traffic day in its history, with 51,420 passengers in a single day. This passenger growth reflects increasing demand for Albania, the expansion of links with international markets, and the effectiveness of our policies to promote the country as a competitive destination year-round. Direct routes from major long-haul markets such as North America are strategically important because they attract visitors who stay longer, support our diaspora, and generate quality tourism.”

Enea Karakaçi, Minister of Infrastructure and Energy of the Republic of Albania, stated:

“The launch of direct flights between Toronto and Tirana represents a historic moment in relations between Albania and Canada. This new route will bring citizens of both countries closer together, strengthen ties with the Albanian diaspora in Canada, and create new opportunities for tourism, business, investment, and cultural exchange. Albania is becoming one of Europe’s fastest-growing tourist destinations, and improved air connectivity plays a key role in supporting this development. We thank Air Transat for investing in this route and look forward to expanding our cooperation and the air links between our two countries.”

Elissa Goldberg, Ambassador of Canada to Albania, said:

“This is a historic moment because it marks the first direct flight between Canada and Albania, and, if I may add, the first direct flight between North America and Tirana. I have been deeply impressed by this route and by the warm welcome it has received. This route is a remarkable achievement and deserves to be celebrated. I would like to sincerely thank Air Transat and Tirana International Airport for building this new bridge between Canada and Albania.”

About Air Transat

Founded in Montreal in 1987, Air Transat is a leading Canadian leisure airline. It was named the World’s Best Leisure Airline in 2025 by Skytrax World Airline Awards. The airline operates flights to destinations across Europe, the Caribbean, South America, the United States, and Canada. Air Transat is known for customer service, operational efficiency, and environmental commitment. Its main hubs are Montréal–Trudeau (YUL) and Toronto Pearson (YYZ). The airline employs more than 5,000 people and operates a modern fleet. Air Transat is a business unit of Transat A.T. Inc. (TSX: TRZ).

About Tirana International Airport

Tirana International Airport continues to consolidate its position as one of Europe’s fastest-growing airports through strategic investments in infrastructure, technology, and passenger experience. As Albania’s primary gateway, TIA plays a key role in connecting the country with Europe and destinations around the world.