Pristina Airport Makeover Starts, Problems Remain

When Nina Schat flies into Pristina from her native Netherlands, it isn’t exactly an awe-inspiring experience upon landing at the airport.

“It’s what you get in a country like Kosovo,” the NGO project manager said with a laugh.
But there are high hopes that the forthcoming overhaul with breath new life into the small aging Pristina International Airport Adem Jashari.

Limak Aeroport de Lyon has begun renovating existing facilities and is preparing to start building a new 100 million euro, 25,000-square-metre terminal in late June.

Kosovo government officials say they’re pleased thus far two months into the Turkish-French consortium’s takeover of Pristina International Airport.

“The contract is being implemented properly, and we are pleased with this,” said Illir Rama, who runs the government’s private-partnership unit. “Kosovo’s budget will benefit from the concession, as will its citizens”

The deal already has put 2 million euro into government coffers, with more on the way. And the airport also is getting a new boss.

Ferda Yakar, the former director of Anatalya Airport, is promising that investments, the new terminal and increased airline competition will eventually bring 4 million passengers through Pristina International each year by the end of Limak-Aeroport de Lyon’s 20-year-contract.

A new weekly flight connects Pristina to the Swiss capital, Bern, with plans to expand service to four times a week. And as of June 29, passengers from Kosovo will be able to reach 20 additional European destinations via Vienna on Niki airlines.

Most of those passengers presumably will need to use the road going to and from the airport.

Schat, the NGO worker, said the narrow stretch of pavement is woefully inadequate.
“It’s like a road to a village,” Schat said.

The exit road also is full of potholes, but it’s not clear if the government or Limak-Aeroport de Lyon is responsible for fixing it Construction on a new flyover also remains unfinished and overdue.

Lah Nitaj, an adviser to the minister of infrastructure, blamed the delay on difficulties acquiring along the route. Nitaj said he expects the final phase of the project to begin soon.
“We are working very seriously, and very soon things will go well,” Nitaj said.