“Arbitration rejects VIA’s requests”: Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy says termination of Vlorë Airport concession contract takes effect

Albania’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy has announced that the Emergency Arbitrator has rejected the key requests of VIA, the concessionaire of Vlorë Airport, and declined to suspend the termination of the Concession Contract.

According to the ministry’s press release, on September 16, 2026, the Emergency Arbitrator issued an Order as part of the emergency arbitration proceedings initiated by VIA.

The ministry says the Emergency Arbitrator “fully rejected two of VIA’s three requests” and did not grant the company’s main request to suspend the termination of the Concession Contract.

The ministry explains that the only measure ordered was the “limited and temporary preservation of the status quo” until the arbitration tribunal is constituted and able to consider the case.

According to the release, the Arbitrator rejected VIA’s request to suspend both the termination of the Concession Contract and the implementation of the Termination Notice. The ministry says the Arbitrator agreed with its position that “neither the Contract nor the evidence presented provided sufficient legal basis” for such a measure.

“As a consequence, the termination of the Concession Contract has taken effect,” the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy said in its release.

The ministry also explains that, under the Emergency Arbitrator’s decision, VIA’s requests to force the ministry to take part in mediation and appoint a mediator, as well as the request to delay the start of arbitration by another two months, were also rejected.

According to the ministry, the rejection of these requests means the dispute can immediately move to the arbitration tribunal, where the ministry says it “will continue to resolutely defend its position.”

Regarding the interim measure, the ministry explains that the Emergency Arbitrator ordered that, temporarily, the ministry not exercise certain rights arising after the termination of the Concession Contract.

According to the release, this measure is short-term and will remain in force only until the arbitration tribunal is constituted and able to consider the case. The ministry emphasizes that the measure “does not affect the validity or effectiveness of the termination of the Concession Contract.”

According to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy’s release, the Emergency Arbitrator also ordered VIA to bear the costs of the emergency arbitration proceedings.

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy describes the decision as “a clear failure by VIA to secure the decision that was the essence of its request.”

According to the ministry, VIA had sought to block the termination of the Concession Contract from taking effect and to delay the start of arbitration through a prolonged mediation process. “It achieved neither,” the release says.

The ministry says the decision enables it to prepare the next steps flowing from the termination of the Concession Contract, which, according to the ministry, are necessary “to protect the public interest,” while respecting the limited and short-term measure ordered pending the constitution of the arbitration tribunal.

In line with the Emergency Arbitrator’s decision, the ministry has announced it will notify VIA that “the termination of the Concession Contract has taken effect.”