Exhibit 99.1


  Albany International Announces Plans to Consolidate Manufacturing Operations
                                    in Europe

    ALBANY, N.Y., Jan. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Albany International Corp.
(NYSE/PSE/FWB: AIN) announced today its plan to discontinue press fabric and
forming fabric manufacturing at its facility in Dieren, the Netherlands, and to
discontinue dryer fabric manufacturing at its Bury, Lancashire, England,
facility. These actions are part of the Company's continuing effort to match
capacity to the global demand for paper machine clothing.
    At the Bury facility, the proposal is likely to affect up to 50 of the
130 people employed.  Bury would continue to manufacture process belts for
shoe press and related paper machine applications.  At the Dieren operations,
all manufacturing would be discontinued and would affect approximately 280
employees.  The proposal is subject to review under local law and would be
carried out in consultation with the works councils and trade unions.
    The proposal by the Company to discontinue operations is a business-driven
necessity and does not reflect on the fine performance of the Albany
International employees at the Bury and Dieren operations.
    Transition of manufacturing to other Albany International Europe
facilities will begin as soon as possible and is expected to be completed in
2004.
    Albany International is the world's largest producer of paper machine
clothing and high-performance doors with manufacturing plants in 15 countries
and sales worldwide.  Additional information about the Company and its
businesses and products is available at www.albint.com.

SOURCE  Albany International Corp.
    -0-                             01/22/2004
    /CONTACT:  Kenneth C. Pulver, Vice President-Corporate Communications of
Albany International Corp., +1-518-445-2214/
    /Web site:  http://www.albint.com /
    (AIN)

CO:  Albany International Corp.
ST:  New York
IN:  TEX PAP MAC
SU: