Vlora International Airport (construction)

Not applicable, as the airport has never been open to be closed. The previous military airbase on the site was abandoned due to the political and military restructuring of Albania following the fall of communism, rendering many such defensive airfields obsolete.

The site is an active, large-scale construction zone for the new Vlora International Airport. Construction officially began in 2021. As of early 2024, the 3.2-kilometer runway, taxiways, and the main structure of the terminal building are largely complete. The project is being developed by a consortium consisting of Mabco Constructions SA and the YDA Group.

The new Vlora International Airport has no operational history. The site itself, however, was historically the location of the Akërni Airfield (also known as Pishë Poro airfield). This was a reserve military airbase built during Albania's communist era under Enver Hoxha. It was part of a widespread network of airfields designed for defensive purposes and to disperse the Albanian Air Force in case of invasion. It featured a single runway and basic facilities and fell into disuse and decay in the decades following the end of the Cold War.

The airport is not 'reopening' but is scheduled for its inaugural opening. According to official statements from the Albanian government and the construction consortium, the airport is expected to be completed and become operational by the end of 2024 or in early 2025. It is planned to be Albania's third international airport, after Tirana (TIA) and Kukës (KFZ), designed to boost tourism in the southern coastal region of the country. The ICAO code 'AL-0003' is an unofficial placeholder; an official ICAO code (likely starting with 'LA', like other Albanian airports) will be assigned upon its certification and opening.