Albatros Airways Sh.p.k was a low-cost airline based in Tirana in Albania. It flew to destinations in Italy using Fokker 100 aircraft. Its main base was Rinas Mother Teresa Airport (TIA), Tirana. On 1 September 2006 the airline was grounded, only with one phone call on 31 August 2006, by the Albanian aviation authorities because of unpaid airport and air traffic control fees.[1]

Albatros Airways
IATA ICAO Call sign
4H LBW ALBANWAYS
Founded2004
Ceased operations2006
HubsTirana International Airport Nënë Tereza
Fleet size1
Destinations8
HeadquartersTirana, Albania
Key peopleAlbens Vokopola, Valer Hoxha, Aleksandër Hoxha, Tritan Anamali, Fatmir Prifti,

History

edit

The airline was established and started operations on 3 November 2004.[citation needed]

On September 1, 2006, the airline was grounded and according to local media it was advised to stop selling tickets. The grounding led to heavy political controversies in Albania. The opposition and the management accused the government of having interfered against Albatros Airways violating the free market economy. The office of the President of Albania was blamed of having favoured Albatros Airways. [citation needed]

Destinations

edit

These are the scheduled international destinations as of July 2006:

 
Albatros Airways Fokker 100 Landed

Domestic

edit
  Albania

International

edit
  Italy

Fleet

edit
 
Albatros Airways Fokker 100

As of August 2006 the Albatros Airways fleet includes:[2]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ CH-Aviation 9 September 2006
  2. ^ Flight International, 3–9 October 2006
edit