Prime Minister Kurti and Minister Aliu visit ASHNA

Data: 1 August 2023

The Director of the Air Navigation Services Agency (ASHNA), Samir Bllacaku, received the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, together with the Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Liburn Aliu and the Deputy Minister of MMPHI, on a working visit to ASHNA , Hysen Durmishi. Cooperation for the advancement of the Air Traffic Management System was at the center of this meeting. Prime Minister Kurti emphasized the importance of Air Traffic Management, so that the Air Navigation Services Agency and our air control reach the level of European countries. Mr. Kurti said that we will cooperate in the following months and years, in order to push this very important agency for infrastructure, for traffic, for security and for the sovereignty of the Republic of Kosovo even further towards new achievements. In particular, the Prime Minister appreciated the support of partners given to ASHNA, singling out the contribution of NATO and KFOR. He expressed his belief that through further cooperation, the highest standards and criteria of the European Union will be met. The Prime Minister emphasized that he was informed by the director, Director Samir Bllacaku, about the technical and professional preparations that are being made, so that in the future the control of the high air space, which is above 6250 meters, will be taken. From this, it is estimated that the financial benefits as a state will be between 6 and 7 million euros per year. The opening of two new corridors with the Republic of Albania was appreciated, which has made it possible to shorten the journey to Vienna by about 15 minutes, since it is no longer necessary to cross the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia, which was the case earlier. Among the achievements, the extension of the runway, and the 3B level of the landing system, as a very advanced level, were highlighted. On the other hand, Director Samir Bllacaku thanked Prime Minister Kurti for visiting ASHNA, adding that this is the first visit of a Prime Minister of Kosovo to this institution. Bllacaku emphasized that we have the support and commitment of the Government that will help us in the realization of our projects for the preparation of the acquisition of high air space.

Minister of MMPHI, Mr. Liburn Aliu, stressing the importance of Kosovo’s air transport, said that it is intended that further achievements in the development of services that will be made by this agency will then enable our state capacities for air transport to increase in the field of goods transport. This is related to other ways of land and rail transport, so that through new projects we can connect the Adriatic Sea with maritime transport. In order to see closely the observation and supervision process, Prime Minister Kurti visited the Air Traffic Tower, the Department of Meteorology, the operations room and the aeronautical equipment monitoring room at ASHNA.