Gjirokastër Airfield

Gjirokastër Airfield
The airport building one month prior to the official reopening in July 2022
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerMunicipality of Gjirokastër
ServesGjirokastër
LocationAlbania
Elevation AMSL666 ft / 203 m
Coordinates40°5′16.4″N 20°9′6.9″E / 40.087889°N 20.151917°E / 40.087889; 20.151917 (Gjirokastër Airport (Gjirokastër))
Map
Gjirokastër is located in Albania
Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër
Location of Gjirokastër Airport in Albania
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
14/32 4,420 1,347 GRASS

Gjirokastër Airfield is an airfield located near Gjirokastër, Gjirokastër, Albania.

History

The airfield was initially put in operation in 1929 when there were scheduled domestic flights between Gjirokastër and Tirana and was mainly used for public and military purposes.[1] The airfield is located about 1 km (0.62 mi) east of the city of Gjirokaster. The last aircraft to land was a state-owned plane dating back to February 26, 1991, when the former Albanian president Ramiz Alia was visiting Gjirokastra for the last time.[2] Several attempts have been made to revive the airfield and in 2021 6 light aircraft from North Macedonia and Kosovo landed successfully at the airfield.[3] The aim is to turn the airfield into an air sport and tourism destination throughout the year. Eventually, the airfield was certified for touristic and sportive purposes by the Civil Aviation Authority in July 2022 and it was assigned the code LAGK.[4]

Development

In January 2024 the vice prime minister and minister of infrastructure of Albania, Ms Belinda Balluku, advised that the new airport in south Albania will be built in the existing airfield of Gjrokaster aerodrome.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Gjirokastra jo vetëm destinacion turistik/ Spektakël ajror në aerodrom". ata.gov.al. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Riaktivizohet aerodromi i Gjirokastrës për sportet ajrore pas 30 vitesh, Rama: Një hapësirë më shumë për turizmin e zonës". shqiptarja.com.
  3. ^ ""Hapet" Aeroporti i Gjirokastrës, fluturojnë 6 aeroplanët e parë". vizionplus.tv. 5 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Nga Engjëll Serjani: Kryeministri Rama mbështet kryebashkiakun Golemi të Gjirokastrës në nismën e tij të fundit". News Albania. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  5. ^ "Albania changes planned airport location". SeeNews. Retrieved 9 January 2024.


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