Air Albania launches flights from new Istanbul airport

ISTANBUL- Anadolu Agency

Albania's first national airline company- a joint venture with Turkey's flag carrier Turkish Airlines- started flights on April 26 from Istanbul Airport, the city's new main international air hub.     

Air Albania will operate two flights daily between Istanbul and the capital Tirana, Sinan Dilek, the general manager of the carrier, said during a ceremony at Istanbul Airport.     

Dilek said Air Albania planned to schedule flights to new destinations in Italy and the U.K. this summer.     

"It is a pride for us to start flights from Istanbul Airport, which is the biggest airport in the world," he added.     

The first phase of the Istanbul Airport with an annual capacity of 90 million passengers officially opened last October.     

At full annual capacity of 200 million passengers- with the completion of all four phases with six runways by 2028- Istanbul Airport is set to become a global aviation hub with flights to over 350 destinations around the world.