South Korea's Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) has withdrawn from the tender procedure for the thirty-year concession to operate Montenegro's two international airports, bringing an end to its bid despite having previously been selected as the preferred bidder. The Montenegrin government confirmed the development, noting that IIAC had informed authorities of its decision to exit the process.

The withdrawal marks the latest twist in the long-running and controversial concession process, which has faced repeated delays, disputes over the evaluation of bids and allegations of irregularities. In April, the government adopted a draft decision to award the concession for Podgorica and Tivat airports to IIAC after the company emerged as the highest-ranked bidder. However, the selection remained subject to a formal appeals process before a final contract could be signed.

Following IIAC's withdrawal, attention is expected to shift to the only remaining bidder, Corporation America Airports (CAAP), which has indicated it remains interested in the project. It remains unclear whether the Montenegrin government will proceed with negotiations with CAAP or opt to relaunch the concession tender altogether.