Montenegro Airlines has continued to post record passenger growth, with both its operational and financial recovery on track. The Montenegrin carrier handled 250.296 passengers during the first half of the year, representing an increase of 9% on 2017. The number of operated flights grew 6.6% to 3.209. The average cabin load factor improved three points to 65%. "The growth in all of the aforementioned sectors comes as a result of the implementation of the optimal commercial strategy, as well as the responsible planning of resources and costs, which all had a positive impact on our operational results during the first half of the year", the airline said in a statement. Montenegro Airlines accounted for almost a quarter of all passengers passing through the country's two international airports - Podgorica and Tivat.

On the financial front, the carrier's figures improved some two million euros, despite an increase in the cost of fuel, with expenses growing to 1.2 million euros over the H1 period. However, no further financial results have been released at this point. "The latest data shows that Montenegro Airlines continued to achieve positive financial growth during the second quarter despite some aggravating factors which are primarily linked to the significant increase in the cost of fuel. Therefore, we expect to attain the goals set as part of our business plan by the end of the year", Montenegro Airlines' CEO, Živko Banjević, said.

The Montenegrin carrier continued to record passenger growth during the month of June with figures growing an impressive 16.5% to 73.305. As a result, the airline handled an additional 10.387 travellers. A total of 64.500 passengers were carried on scheduled flights, while the rest were transported on charter services, up 87.6% on 2017. The destinations which recorded the biggest passenger growth this year were Copenhagen, with a load factor of 83%, followed by London with a cabin occupancy rate of 82%, then Belgrade with 75%, St Petersburg at 73% and Moscow with a load factor of 71%.