Mayor Adams Advocates for Direct Flights to Albania

On Wednesday, Mayor Eric Adams expressed his desire for a direct flight from New York City to Albania, aiming to simplify travel for ambassadors between the two locations.

However, he clarified that his recent trip to the Balkans wasn’t about promoting concerts abroad after his term ends this year. “There was a lot of speculation about why I was here and what we were doing,” he stated to reporters in Tirana.

Adams shared, “The reason was simple: to greet our friends, learn from them, and build friendships where oceans and seas do not separate us,” during a press conference near Prime Minister Edi Rama’s office.

There has been ongoing speculation that Adams was maneuvering for a potential ambassadorship to the Trump administration, especially after he stepped back from the mayoral race in an effort to oppose Democratic candidate Zoran Mamdani.

Although elected as a Democrat, Adams did not participate in the party’s June primary, as he was facing federal corruption allegations that arose during the Biden administration but were dismissed when Trump returned to office.

He ran as an independent but ultimately withdrew his candidacy after experiencing dwindling donor support and low turnout.

During his visit, Adams emphasized the importance of promoting tourism between Albania and New York. “I wanted to talk about tourism and ensure that direct flights from New York City to Albania are available not only during my term but also beyond,” he remarked.

A spokesperson for Adams claimed that the trip had no connection to any job opportunities post-tenure. The flight negotiations with the airline are still in early stages, and the visit was framed as a business venture aimed at enhancing economic relations between NYC and the Eastern European nation.

City Hall revealed that taxpayers are covering part of the mayor’s travel expenses, while the Albanian government is handling his accommodations and transportation. Adams is set to return to New York on Thursday.