The European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol) has announced that is planning to sue the defunct airline Air Albania. It has been reported the claim totals €1.2 million, largely concerning the legal costs of previous cases. Air Albania was its nation’s flag carrier from May 2018 until it ceased operations due to financial difficulties in December 2025. The case will be heard at the Court of First Instance in Tirana, Albania, on Oct. 20.
Why is Eurocontrol Suing Air Albania?
The lawsuit relates to a “fulfilment of obligation” requirement that Air Albania did not meet before its operations were suspended.
These form part of an estimated €100 million worth of unpaid debts held by the airline when it ceased operations.
These included unpaid leases to the U.S. based leasing agent GA Telesis.
GA brought a lawsuit against Air Albania, through its subsidiary Gat Aircraft and Engine Leasing Limited, to the British High Court Aug. 1, 2025.
The airline’s annual revenues had fallen below what was considered a sustainable level due to the rapid expansion of low-cost airlines such as Wizz Air and Ryanair into the Albanian market.
Air Albania’s financial difficulties were deepened by the withdrawal of funding from its largest shareholder, Turkish Airlines, on Nov. 19, 2025.
Three weeks later, Air Albania had cancelled all scheduled flights, with the Albania Civil Aviation Authority choosing to suspend the airline’s license shortly afterwards, citing a failure to comply with regulatory standards.
Who Will Pay Air Albania’s Debts?
At the time of their withdrawal, Turkish Airlines held a 49% stake in Air Albania.
The rest of the company’s shares were split between the Albanian government, which owned 10% of the airline, and Albanian businessman Sinan Idrizi’s MDN Investment company, which owned the remaining 41%.
While this would theoretically mean that any outstanding debts would have to be predominantly paid by Turkish Airlines and MDN Investment, the Albanian government pledged €35 million to cover these costs in March 2026.
Swiss newspaper AeroTELEGRAPH reported at the time that,
“The Albanian government is considering taking over part of the airline’s debts. This stems from unpaid obligations of approximately €100 million.”
In theory the government’s contribution is only a loan, with Idrizi and Turkish Airlines required to pay back a share of the €35 million investment over a 50 year period.
What is Eurocontrol?
Eurocontrol is an intergovernmental organisation which coordinates flight plans for aircraft operating across its 42 members’ air spaces.
Albania has been a member of the group since 2002, meaning that airlines registered in the country are required to pay Eurocontrol annual air fees.
In exchange, member states may benefit from Eurocontrol’s flight tracking systems, as well as investment in research and development projects aimed at improving the efficiency and sustainability of Europe’s aviation sector.
In addition to this, Eurocontrol operates the Aviation Learning Centre (ALC) in Luxembourg. The ALC offers a range of technical and communications training, preparing many of its future staff for a career in air traffic control.
Did you ever fly on Air Albania? Who do you think should be responsible for its debts? Let us know in the comments.
