Airport type Public Elevation AMSL 1,120 ft / 341 m 1,800 5,906 Elevation 341 m | Location Kukës, Albania 01/19 1,800 5,906 Paved | |
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Kukës Airport Shaikh Zayed (ICAO: LAKU) is an airport about 3.5 km (2.2 mi) south of Kukës, Albania. The government of Albania granted permission for it to host international passenger traffic in 2016. The airport is named after a major founder of the United Arab Emirates, Shaikh Zayed, who personally founded the building of this airport.
Low-cost companies like Ryan Air and the Hungarian Wizz Air, as well as the Slovenian flag carrier Adria Airways have expressed their interest in operating from the Kukës International Airport.
History
Involvement by United Arab Emirates in the Kukës area dates back to the Kosovo War (1999). The UAE contributed large amounts of money, humanitarian aid, built a highly efficient refugee camp for Kosovan Albanians and an airstrip for incoming relief supplies at Kukës in Northern Albania. The UAE funded construction of an airport was completed in 2006 and expected to employ more than 200 people, helping the local economy by opening more touristic opportunities for the region.