This was published 1 year ago
Airport review: Tirana International Airport Nene Tereza (Mother Teresa), Albania
Don't let the name fool you; this small international transit hub is surprisingly modern.Credit: Getty
THE AIRPORT
Tirana International Airport Nene Tereza (Mother Teresa), also known as Rinas International Airport (TIA).
THE FLIGHT
ITA Airways flight AZ585 from Tirana, Albania to Rome, Italy.
THE ARRIVAL
Named in honour of Albanian nun and missionary, Mother Teresa, Tirana International Airport is located about 20 kilometres from downtown Tirana. There's a public bus to the airport, but I opt for the convenience of a taxi. I hail one on the street in front of the hotel I've stayed at, then negotiate a flat-rate fare of ALL1500 (Albanian Lek), about $20. Uber doesn't exist in Albania. Neither, apparently, do road rules. Or seatbelts. The 25-minute stomach-churning drive to the outskirts of the city is a great opportunity to practise deep breathing and optimism.
THE LOOK
TIA is the largest airport in Albania and claims to be the seventh busiest in the Balkans, which is kind of like being the fifth runner-up at the school talent quest. Construction began in the 1950s and the airport's fortunes faced many eco-political setbacks in the ensuing decades until things started looking up with the collapse of communism in the 1990s. A new passenger terminal, designed by Malaysian architect Hin Tan, opened in 2007. The glass structure is modern, compact and seamlessly integrates indoor and outdoor facilities.
CHECK IN
A well-organised, small international airport is a beautiful thing. I arrive two hours ahead of scheduled departure and walk straight up to the ITA Airways check-in desk to drop off my suitcase and pick up a boarding pass. With time to spare, I visit the currency exchange kiosk. There's no commission charged to convert lek to euro, which might have been useful information yesterday when believing it was a closed currency I'd spent wildly.
SECURITY
A modern and efficient system. First step is to scan the barcode of my boarding pass at the self-service turnstiles, then I join the queue for carry-on baggage screening. Last step is passport control and I'm airside within 15 minutes.
FOOD + DRINK
Shut up and take my money. There's a KFC near the main entrance, doing a roaring trade. As the number of airlines and passengers flying into Tirana has increased rapidly — a record 2 million passengers in 2016, then 5 million in 2022 — private funding has modernised the facilities. Several coffee shops and bars are located landside and airside. A small Conad supermarket sells cold drinks, snacks, chocolate and sandwiches.
RETAIL THERAPY
A duty-free store near the departure gates sells all the same things you'd find in airports from Rio to Reykjavik, including giant Toblerones, Chivas Regal and Kenzo perfume. There's not much in the way of Albanian souvenirs, which obviously is a missed opportunity to market Mother Teresa souvenir tea-towels, mugs and rosary beads.
PASSING TIME
Free, fast Wi-Fi with one-click connection will have you surfing and streaming to your heart's content immediately. Why can't other airports do this?
THE VERDICT
Small and surprisingly modern. Not great for shopping, but terrific for fast entry and exit.
OUR RATING OUT OF FIVE
★★★
Kristie Kellahan travelled at her own expense.
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