New flights from Priština

They take you home

Yesterday, December 1, a newly established low cost airline called Tafa Air, began operations from Priština to the Albanian capital Tirana. The airline will be carrying out services with 2 leased Airbus A320s. Tafa Air will initially connect Priština to Berlin, Neubrandenburg, Dortmund and Friedrichshafen all of which will operate on a daily basis (starting December 5). Flights to Tirana will operate twice per day which will add competition on the line, currently dominated by the Albanian low cost airline Belle Air. Tafa Air also plans to lease 2 Ilyushin IL-76TD freighters "by the start of January" in order to operate charter cargo services from the Balkans to mainly Middle Eastern destinations.

The airline has been set up by Albanian businessman Taf Tafa, who has interests in construction and other sectors. It is financially backed by Albanian and Kosovan businessmen. Ova Sami, an assistant at Tafa Ar told “Flight Global” that Tafa Air aims to extend its network to include Austria and Switzerland, with services to Geneva due to launch next summer. It also aims to begin services to London in summer 2010 and is currently negotiating with several London airports - although not Heathrow, which Sami says is "too expensive". Sami says that fares are being set at a level typically around 30% of those charged by existing carriers for next-day services between Western Europe and Albania. Sami adds that the airline's backers are prepared to accept small margins to facilitate travel for the Albanian and Kosovan diaspora. "The major point of our airline is very simple", he says. "It's an ethnic airline and will be a cheap means for Albanians and Kosovans to travel back and forth to their home".

Meanwhile, Air Berlin which last month began serving Priština from several German and Swiss airports announced that by the end of March its passengers will be able to connect in Dusseldorf to US bound flights with an hour brake. Priština Airport has also notified that ČSA Czech Airlines has put Priština on its list of new markets the airline is considering entering.