Albania's National Air Traffic Agency has hired US law firm American Consulting Group to help it negotiate a USD33m loan with the French bank BNP Paribas.

The loan is to help modernise the country's air traffic control service with new technology and equipment from US-based aerospace company Lockheed Martin. The US company has already completed the installation of a new air traffic control system at Mother Teresa International Airport.

Airport Partners Consortium, in exchange for a 20-year concession, will finance a three-year, USD81m refurbishment for the rest of the airport. Albania hopes to expand its available airspace and increase passenger numbers at the airport to 1.5m, reports The Associated Press.