Aviation History
Albanian civil aviation was tightly state-controlled under communist-era carrier Albtransport before opening up after 1990; private carrier Albanian Airlines (1991-2011) briefly became the leading airline before its license was revoked. In 2018 the government partnered with Turkish Airlines to launch Air Albania as the new flag carrier, but Turkish Airlines' withdrawal led Air Albania to cease operations in December 2025 — a very recent and still-unfolding development.
Established in May 1991 and renamed Albanian Airlines in 1992, it becomes Albania's first major post-communist private carrier.
Albanian Airlines starts public commercial operations on 20 June 1992 in partnership with Austria's Tyrolean Airways.
Albania's Civil Aviation Authority revokes Albanian Airlines' operating license on 10 November, ending the carrier permanently.
A joint venture between Turkish Airlines (49%), state firm Albcontrol and MDN Investment establishes Air Albania as the country's new flag carrier.
Air Albania operates its inaugural Tirana-Istanbul flight on 14 September.
Following Turkish Airlines' withdrawal, Albanian authorities suspend Air Albania's operating license in December, ending flights; the aftermath and any successor carrier remain unresolved as of this writing.
Air Albania (ceased operations December 2025) · Albanian Airlines (historical) · Albtransport (historical, state carrier)
Wikipedia, CAPA, Paliparan, fl360aero — note: the December 2025 Air Albania shutdown is a very recent development and details may still be evolving