Prishtina International Airport (PIA) has announced that earnings for the first part of 2008 have increased to 7.5 million euros or 2.7 million net earnings.

 

The net earnings for the first six months are double to what they were during the same period last year. "Net earnings are a result of the increase in the number of passengers and reduction in operational spending by 10%," said Argon Mustafa, acting director at PIA.

According to Mustafa, the number of passengers has increased by 20% compared to the same period last year and there has been a positive trend, especially in the second quarter. "We have had 75,000 more passengers and the number of flights has increased by 13%," said Mustafa.

In June, PIA promoted three new lines: Prishtina-Zagreb, Prishtina-Gothenburg, Sweden, and Prishtina-Liege, Belgium.

To deal with the increased number of traffic, the airport will soon increase the number of check-in desks and security control posts. Due to the increased number of movement of national and foreign governmental delegations, embassy officials, and businessmen, the airport has approved the construction of a VIP terminal.

 

In the mean time, capital investments already planned are continuing such the layering of the runway, ramp construction, perimeter fencing and other projects necessary for the airport to acquire ICAO certification.