Montenegro Airlines plans 2015 expansion

Montenegro Airlines to launch new destinations next year

Montenegro Airlines has announced plans to expand its route network next year, in a move aimed at combating increased competition in the region. The Montenegrin carrier is negotiating the launch of flights to Copenhagen via Zagreb, which it intends on operating three times per week on a year-long basis. The airline hopes to be granted fifth freedom rights out of Zagreb and cooperate with Croatia Airlines on the route. Furthermore, new seasonal summer flights will include Manchester and Lyon next year. Montenegro Airlines also intends on launching a range of charter flights to Germany, as well as Prague and Warsaw. In a statement, the airline said, “The company still aims at conquering the market, primarily Western Europe, harmonize its ticket pricing policy and further optimize its network”.

The national carrier has also hinted at a possible return to Pristina after it said it was close to paying off its 429.000 euro debt to the Kosovan airport. Montenegro Airlines suspended operations to Prisitna in early 2011 after one of its jets was grounded at the airport for several hours due to outstanding debt. It was cleared to depart back to Podgorica only after a 50.000 euro deposit was made. The airline is also making good on other outstanding obligations such as those to Airports of Montenegro and the Serbia and Montenegro Air Traffic Services Agency. “The airline is meeting all of its fiscal obligations in 2014”, the carrier said.

The airline has managed to see an increase in passenger numbers this year. While it has not revealed its total for 2014 so far, in August it saw a 3% passenger increase, with 4.183 travellers on scheduled flights and a further 1.594 on charter services. The result comes despite a decline in the number of operated flights. In a statement, the airline noted, “Despite increased competition on the market, the strategic partnership between a company in the region and a global giant of commercial aviation, natural disasters in neighbouring countries, the Ukraine crisis and poor weather conditions over the summer, the national carrier is satisfied with its performance during the first eight months of the year”. Montenegro Airlines is the third national carrier in the former Yugoslavia to announce its expansion plans for next year following Adria Airways and Croatia Airlines.

Comments

  1. Anonymous09:07

    Good on them for trying something new. Good luck.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Welcome Montenegro in ZAG!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous09:28

    Why they didn't want to cooperate with AS?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:31

      Who knows. It would make far more sense to work with them than with Croatia Airlines.
      I don't see why would anyone use the connections via Zagreb when there is Belgrade.
      BEG has far more destinations and not to mention it has like 7 daily flights from Podgorica which gives you flexibility.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:31

      They have an interline agreement. What more should they do? Any other cooperation would mean funneling passengers though Belgrade which I highly doubt is in their interest.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:40

      Why wouldn't it be their interest? It's not like they cooperate with someone at the moment. They could have placed their codes on flights to some destinations where the market is not big enough to be served from Montenegro.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:45

      Because I don't think its in the interest of Air Serbia. They get more money if passengers buy a JU ticket from say Warsaw or Prague or Athens via Belgrade to Podgorica. If they cooperated with YM they would share the proceeds. The only reason JU did this with B&H Airlines was because they need a morning flight from/to Sarajevo and they don't have enough aircraft.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:47

      Just to add, it's different for Croatia Airlines because there are no flights between TGD/TIV-ZAG. As far as I remember Croatia Airlines superseded these flights a year ago. Since OU flies 5x p/w to CPH during the winter a few more flights by YM with a codeshare would be good for both sides.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:56

      Yeah but how big is the Montenegro-Zagreb market? Can't be that big...

      Furthermore, Air Serbia doesn't gain that much from B&H's morning flight since it lands at 06.45 when most flights have already left Belgrade. If it was arriving at 05.45 then it would make much more sense.

      Delete
    7. PURGER10:12

      Of course it is much better deal for YM to cooperate with OU if they would fly some flights for OU than just to have code-share with JU. That is win-win situation for YM and OU.

      Benefits for YM:
      - OU code on TGD-ZAG flight
      - extra OU passengers on ZAG-CPH flight
      - 1stop passengers on TGD-CPH flights
      - possible code-share on OU connections via ZAG to LHR, LGW, BCN, AMS, BRU, CDG, ZRH, VIE, FRA, MUC, FCO, SPU, ZAD, PUY, OSI, SJJ, SKP, PRN
      - connections to other airlines via ZAG: AMS, CDG, LGW, TXL, SVO, IST, WAW, MAD

      Benefits for OU:
      - feeding route TGD-ZAG
      - extra frequencies to CPH

      But CPH is definitely not good option. OU have enough flights to CPH and they don't need more frequencies. In same time CPH is Star Alliance/SAS hub where OU have code-share to CPH and USA flights via CPH. For sure it will be impossible to make those connections in code-share with YM also. Also SAS has code on those OU flights and for sure they will not put their codes on YM flights

      So much better option would be those routes that are not served from ZAG like PRG, ARN, DME, OTP, HEL, OSL. In most of those routes it would be much easier for YM and OU to fly together.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous10:23

      But one stop for passengers between Copenhagen and Montenegro makes little sense as its no different than flying via Vienna or Belgrade. Not to mention that passengers going via Belgrade have daily flights, more options and more flexibility than the three weekly flights via Zagreb.

      Furthermore, I don't see why anyone would fly TGD-ZAG-FCO via SPU or DBV when there are direct flights with both YM and AZ.

      Delete
    9. Purger10:23

      And I forgot LIS, BLQ, DOH, BUD, ATH, BWK, TLV, RJK, DBX, Rab, VLC and charters

      Delete
    10. Anonymous10:37

      Doha is better served via Istanbul.
      Budapest has more options via Belgrade and the same applies for Athens and Tel Aviv.
      So still, even with a mere interline agreement Zagreb can't outperform Belgrade.

      By the way, there is a huge number of interline passengers from Montenegro onto Air Serbia flights.

      I just don't see this partnership working for a long time, especially since its only three times per week. Oh well, at least they tried.

      Delete
    11. Purger10:37

      About FCO you are absolutely right (but still there are so many options without FCO).

      CPH is not just about frequencies but also:
      - price (today that is most important thing), and if JU will stay on dumping prices they don't have much chance there
      - state employees that must use Montenegrin company
      - benefits (ff, short break in ZAG, some business in ZAG)

      If they have for example 40 pax on TGD-ZAG route and 20 on TGD-CPH route that is break even, and for sure they will have more than 40 OU pax on ZAG-CPH route

      Delete
    12. Anonymous12:00

      I have to dissapoint you, but JU doesn't offer that many dumping prices anymore (especially as they used to in the beginning of the year...).

      Delete
    13. Anonymous12:02

      ^ wait until this Friday...

      Delete
    14. Anonymous14:55

      @ 9:28
      Zasto da saradjuju sa Alaska Airlines ??
      INN-NS

      Delete
    15. Anonymous18:42

      pa što nebi?

      Delete
    16. Anonymous18:59

      Pa moim vas da naucite IATA kodove pre nego sto pisete gluposti AS-ASA ALASKA AIRLINES
      JU-ASL AIR SERBIA ;))
      INN-NS

      Delete
    17. Anonymous19:19

      al si sad pametan. ne moj biti kreten. znaš u kom kontekstu je rečeno AS.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:28

    Hmm.. I guess that they finally understood that they can't further expand in Belgrade and that they will never set up an airline there.
    It will be interesting to see what kind of schedule they will present for Zagreb-Copenhagen. I still don't know why they didn't chose another destination such as Stockholm or Berlin.

    As for Montenegro-Manchester, that's one long flight on the jungle jet. Isn't it like three hours?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:08

      Still beats B&H's 3.5 hour journey to Copenhagen with ATR72

      Delete
    2. Anonymous15:10

      Don't be a spoiled brat! Embraer is perfectly comfortable for longer flights. You probably never flew aboard one.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous15:51

      I think Montenegro has 3 x Embraer 195 and 1 x 190 - are 195's leased and 190 owned or the other way around? Does anyone know when are Fockers (I like to spell this way) due for retirement?

      Delete
    4. I flew on Lot's E175 from Warsaw to Larnaca and I can tell you it was not fun! I find the Embraer ok for flights up to two hours.

      Delete
    5. Stefan17:51

      @AnonymousOctober 21, 2014 at 3:51 PM

      http://exyuaviation.blogspot.com/2014/06/montenegro-airlines-to-sell-fokker-jets.html

      Delete
    6. Anonymous18:23

      Thanks. So two F*kkers will be around for a while and Montenegro Airlines owns only one E190 while E195's are leased. I wish they would merge with Air Serbia, it would make so much sense. There are 50% more Belgrade flights than all other YM flights combined.

      Delete
    7. BA88821:48

      Flew EDI-LCY this Sunday on BAs E190 and thought it was great.

      2+2 in both cabins, great legroom and bright, quiet. I could certainly spend hours on this plane.

      What is YM configuration? If 2+3 or 3+3 (couldnt really see this possible) I think my thoughts would be different.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:41

    I think this is good for Montenegro to go through Zagreb because there is no flights between the two countries.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous09:56

    Did they pay their debt to SKP (it wasnt only PRN) ?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous10:11

    OT: Dubrovnik is getting two air bridges by the end of this year!

    http://www.dubrovackidnevnik.hr/vijesti/grad/povijesni-uspjeh-zracne-luke-dubrovnik-stizu-dva-zracna-mosta-vrijedna-milijun-eura

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It has already been reported
      http://exyuaviation.blogspot.com/p/dubrovnik-airport-gets-air-bridges.html

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:38

      Sorry, didn't see it, thanks!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:38

      Relax ex-YU.

      Delete
    4. I was just pointing it out, no harm intended.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous11:28

    What's with Prague and Warsaw suddenly becoming so popular with ex-Yu airlines ? First Air Serbia, then Adria now Montenegro Airlines.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:49

      I was about to tell the same.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:45

      +1

      Delete
    3. Anonymous17:19

      I think it's called Let's copy Air Serbia and see if it works. Next up: B&H to Prag and Warsaw.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous17:40

      Naaah B&H will first launch AMS on the Atr. They probably feel like breaking another record.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous12:49

    Sorry for OT:
    YU-AOU went back to lessor

    http://www.flightradar24.com/data/airplanes/yu-aou/

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous14:33

    Iz Beograda u Dubai za 198€ http://budjet.guru/?p=1385

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous15:50

    HAAHAHAHA najgluplja saradnja ikada.
    Nadam se da me nece biti izbrisam komentar ;))
    INN-NS

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:06

      Zasto najgluplja saradnja ikada??

      Delete
    2. Anonymous16:11

      Mozda jer vec postoji 5 letova nedeljno do CPH sa OU, mislim da je trebalo da uvedu letove do gradova iz kojih nema letova za Zagreb, recimo Stockholm.. Btw ja nisam INN-NS ahahah

      Delete
    3. Anonymous17:07

      Pa da je ARN ili DME-SVO pa da bude nesto od toga ali ovo je cista glupost samo radi pranja para za direktore .
      Pa trebali su i jedan vecernji let da Kucko-Kucka kako se vec zove moze da skokne do EHAM.
      A i obe kompanije su pred bankrotom YM malo vise nego CTN pa pogledajte MAPU destinacija katastrofa :
      INN-NS

      Delete
  12. Anonymous16:02

    Have Air Serbia some plans for 2015? I heard they want to begin flights to Cairo, also I heard that maybe they will begin flights to Kiev (those flights have been cancelled because of Ukraine crisis). Maybe some new planes, 2 or 3 more A319? Anyone knows something about that?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous17:15

      They have plans, just have to wait a little bit longer.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous18:11

    OT:

    Macedonia plans to offer subsidies to tourists coming from neighbouring Bulgaria, Serbia and Bosnia - as long as they come by plane and stay at least a week.

    Macedonia on Tuesday said it was boosting subsidies for tour operators focusing on visitors from Bulgaria, Serbia and Bosnia by 25 to 35 euro per tourist.

    The condition is that tourists must arrive by plane and stay for at least seven days.

    “We have established that there is a lot more space for increasing the number of tourists from these three particular countries,” a government spokesperson, Aleksandar Gjorgiev, said on Tuesday.

    From the start of 2015, subsidies of 65 euros per tourist are also planned for arrivals from Germany, the US, Britain, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, Gjorgiev said.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous19:13

      i have no intention to offend anyone, but this plan is really dumb. 35 EUR is little money to convince anyone to spend their vacations anywhere if theyre tinking over several destinations. Plus, there are no direct flights to Bulgaria and Bosnia, so theres actually only offer for Belgrade flights. And if the intention is to engage more charter flights, tour operators will almost certainly keep the subsidies for themselves not discounting it further onto tourists, simply because theres no competition on charter flights from Bulgaria, Serbia and Bosnia to either Skopje or Ohrid.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:30

      Hmm could it also work for connecting passengers from Bulgaria and Bosnia? Maybe this will make Skopje more attractive for B&H Airlines.

      Delete
  14. OT:

    September SKP - 115.794 or +20,83%

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous00:07

      Thats impressive. Well done!

      Delete
  15. AirCEO20:29

    Heads up, Airbus announced A321NEO long range that can do transatlantic. Operational range is exactly BEG-JFK as the crow flies. Now we just have to wait for Airbus to announce A320NEO-LR with 3 aux tanks that I mentioned here few months ago, and BEG to all three North American destinations (JFK, ORD and YYZ) would be easily doable in A320.

    Having A321/0 NEO-LR (that's easy to fill with passengers year round) will be a game changer for long haul in East Europe. Trip costs are going to be SIGNIFICANTLY lower than A330 or even 787-8.

    Think about possibilities with Icelandair for additional NA destinations. Pay attention to Air Canada, Westjet and Air Transat already rushing to claim a stake at YYT airport as a future narrowbody gateway to North America. Think about Ryanair offering intercontinental flights for next to nothing.

    Long haul narrowbody will be a disruptive technology for cheap nonstop or 1 stop Europe - North America flights in less than 5 years, mark my words!

    More info:

    http://leehamnews.com/2014/10/21/exclusive-airbus-launches-a321neolr-long-range-to-replace-757-200w/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous21:54

      Mozda je ovo malo glupo ali ja mislim da bi se za ASL najbolje bi isplatila 2-3 777-200LR da se leti za AKL-SYD-JFK-YYZ-PEK-ORD
      Sta mislite dali bi se to moglo desiti posto nisam bas strucan u tome i nemam iskustva kao neki ovde =D to oziljno mislim =D
      I koji bi se najvise wide body avion isplatio ASL dali 332 ili 789 .
      I dali ASL ima sanse da u buducoj floti ima A359XWB.
      Jedan od inzenjera A359XWB je bio srbin jel tako .
      Hvala unapred =D
      INN-NS

      Delete
    2. AirCEO23:40

      Air Serbia ništa zvanično ne govori ali po tome šta drugi govore A330-200 je najverovatniji. Ovi drugi avioni su sjajni ali nije realno da ih Air Serbia ima u skoroj budućnosti. Letovi iz Evrope za Australiju i Novi Zeland nisu isplativi, Etihad je partner za destinacije na istok i jug od Abu Dabija.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:29

      Најлогичније би било да ЈУ добије Б787 али нажалост то се вероватно неће десити јер су у потпуности прешли на Ербас.
      Ја се само плашим да А330 не буде сувише велики и сувише тежак за авио компанију као што је ЈУ. Сумњам да ће имати пуну бизнис као и да ће вући доста робе.

      Но добро, живи били па видели.

      Delete
  16. Anonymous21:28

    OT: What happened to JU 374 to ZRH? I see that YU-ANK diverted to STR, does anyone know why?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22:22

      fog, Adria turn plane back to LJU

      Delete
  17. Anonymous22:24

    OT: today was the last flight of Adria's A320 S5-AAS

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22:51

      Where did it fly? Will it be scrapped?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous22:58

      no they will go to Danish Air Transport

      Delete
    3. Anonymous22:58

      as OY-JRK

      Delete
  18. Anonymous22:54

    OT: why was there an airberlin plane today at Sarajevo (seen on the webcam)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

EX-YU Aviation News does not tolerate insults, excessive swearing, racist, homophobic or any other chauvinist remarks or provocative posts with the intention of creating further arguments. A full list of comment guidelines can be found here. Thank you for your cooperation.