The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has assigned the code VLO to Albania’s new Vlora International Airport, marking a key step toward the start of commercial flights, Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister Belinda Balluku said on Saturday.
“IATA has evaluated the application of Vlora International Airport in accordance with international standards and has assigned the airport and ticketing code: VLO,” Balluku wrote on social media.
The allocation of an IATA code allows travel agencies to sell tickets on behalf of leading international airlines. Globally, there are more than 54,000 IATA-accredited travel agents operating across 217 countries and territories.
Balluku added that Air Albania would conduct the inaugural flight in early May, landing on the airport’s 3.2-kilometre runway — the longest in the Balkans.
Vlora International Airport (VIA) is expected to become a major gateway for visitors to Albania’s southern coast, supporting the country’s growing tourism sector. The facility is being developed with a multi-use model, including civil aviation, aircraft maintenance, and dedicated cargo operations, and will cover 22,000 square meters of terminal space.
