The governments of Macedonia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina have finalised a draft agreement which calls upon foreign carriers to operate subsidised flights between the three countries. "The contents of the agreement between Macedonia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina has been settled and will be forwarded to all airlines operating in the region. Carriers will be requested to make their offers. The proposed routing for the service is Skopje - Podgorica - Sarajevo", the Macedonian Prime Minister, Zoran Zaev, said. He noted that Bulgaria could also join the Macedonian-led initiative. Unless the service is operated by Montenegro Airlines, it would involve a carrier being granted seventh freedom rights, which allows an airline to operate international flights between two foreign nations with no onwards service to its own country.

The only foreign airline that maintains services between two former Yugoslav states is Flydubai, which on November 1 introduced flights from Sarajevo to Podgorica. The route was made possible as the United Arab Emirates has an open skies agreement in place with both Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, enabling the designated carrier to operate with full flexibility on routes, capacity, frequency and types of aircraft, in any type of service, including the exercise of fifth freedom rights. These rights give Flydubai the freedom to carry traffic between two foreign countries on a flight that either originated in or is destined for the United Arab Emirates. Macedonia is also a signatory to the open skies agreement with the UAE. Another potential operator for the service between Skopje, Podgorica and Sarajevo could include Wizz Air, which has a base in the Macedonian capital.

The governments of Macedonia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina believe the new route will boost trade and tourism, as well as people to people exchange. Bosnia and Herzegovina's former flag carrier, B&H Airlines, maintained flights between Sarajevo and Skopje on an off-and-on basis for several years. At one point services operated via Podgorica as well, although the airline had no fifth freedom rights between the Montenegrin capital and Skopje. Earlier this month, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denis Zvizdić, said an airline had expressed interest for the introduction of flights between Sofia and Sarajevo via Skopje, however, he did not specify which carrier was considering the route.