Chair Airline has become the inaugural carrier to operate scheduled services from the newly built Vlora International Airport in Albania.
According to the airline’s announcement, the carrier will launch a direct connection to Zurich, Switzerland, with the first flight scheduled for 26 June 2026. The service will run twice weekly and will continue until 23 October 2026.
The route is expected to strengthen the airport’s role as a gateway to the Albanian Riviera and to support tourism and family‑visiting (VFR) traffic, particularly to the Swiss market.
Valon Lluka, CEO of Vlora International Airport, highlighted that the partnership marks a significant milestone for the airport’s development and for the broader region.
Tickets for the Vlora‑Zurich flights are already on sale, and the airport is preparing to receive its first passengers.
Key milestones of the airport project include the successful certification flight on 8 May 2025, a 309‑hectare site, a 3.2 km runway built to 4E standards, and an investment of €104 million. The runway can accommodate wide‑body aircraft such as the Airbus A330‑340 and Boeing 777, and a parallel taxiway of equal length has been constructed to increase handling capacity.
Located roughly 10 km north of the city of Vlora, the airport provides convenient access to the southern coastline and the popular Albanian Riviera, positioning itself as a new international hub for the region.
Source: www.cereport.eu
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