Priština sees profit hike

Priština Airport

Priština Airport saw significant rise in earnings in the first half of 2009 despite the global economic downturn. The airport's executives said the net-earnings amounted to 3.5 million Euros in the first six months this year, up 8% from a year ago. The management of Priština Airport described the year of 2008 as a "golden year" given the fact that net-earnings hit 7 million Euros and the number of passengers exceeded 1 million. The number of flights rose nearly 17% in the first six months of 2009. In 2008, the number of flight stood at 2.105, while this year the number of flights stands at 2.454. Prištoina also saw a 4% increase in the number of passengers compared with the same period in 2008. Airport executives said Priština was able to hold its ground well in one of the worst economic crisis ever. The airport expects good results during the summer season as well as in the second half of 2009.

The year could get better for the airport after Air Berlin, Germany’s second largest airline, announced its wishes to become a prime carrier of Kosovo. It will start off by introducing 10 weekly flights between Priština and Zurich. The date of the new flights is yet to be set. The disputed province has no prime airline and all attempts to create one have failed in the past. The Albanian Belle Air is the leading airline flying out of Priština.