Winter 2018/19 - Montenegro Airlines


Montenegro Airlines will retain the same number of flights this winter season, which begins on October 28, as it did last year, with some minor modifications. The carrier will operate scheduled services from Podgorica to Belgrade, Frankfurt, Ljubljana, Paris, Rome, Vienna and Zurich, as well as from Tivat to Belgrade and Moscow. It will increase frequencies between Podgorica and Ljubljana for a total of four weekly flights, which compete against Adria Airways' daily service on the route. On the other hand, the airline will reduce frequencies between Tivat and Moscow by one weekly flight for a total of two weekly rotations. Russia's S7 Airlines codeshares on the Montenegrin carrier's service between the two cities.

This winter season, Montenegro Airlines will maintain operations with four aircraft - three Embraer E195s and one Fokker 100 jet. The second F100 will undergo scheduled maintenance and will only be used as back-up when required. This winter is expected to mark the last for the airline's two F100s which are approaching retirement. Montenegro Airlines' CEO, Živko Banjević, previously said, "Plans concerning the fleet past 2018 are complex because we must replace the remaining Fokker aircraft. The recently adopted five-year plan outlines two scenarios. One is for the remaining two F100s to be replaced with two E195s in the coming period, in addition to short-term aircraft leases over the summer. In that case, Montenegro Airlines' fleet would be made up of five E195s and one leased aircraft for summer operations. The second scenario calls for the replacement of the Fokkers with two Airbus A320 family aircraft or Boeing 737 family jets. Therefore, the fleet would comprise of three E195s and two A320 or B737 family planes".

The 2018/19 winter season runs until March 31, 2019. Please note that the changes listed below are preliminary and based on current availability in the GDS (Global Distribution System). Both frequencies and destinations are subject to change. Furthermore, the table below displays the peak weekly frequency on each route during the course of the winter season. Adria Airways, Air Serbia and Croatia Airlines have all made adjustment to their winter networks as well and these modifications can be viewed by clicking on the provided links.

Departing Podgorica

DestinationFrequency W17/18Frequency W18/19ChangeNotes
Belgrade1515--
Frankfurt22--
Ljubljana34 1-
Paris22--
Rome33--
Vienna33--
Zurich33--

Departing Tivat

DestinationFrequency W17/18Frequency W18/19ChangeNotes
Belgrade1010--
Moscow32 1-



Comments

  1. Nemjee09:05

    Interesting that JU will have more frequencies than YM on the BEG-TGD sector, 15 vs 18.

    By the way, where is all this demand for TGD-LJU coming from? For a few months now numbers have been booming.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:12

      Hasn't JU traditionally had more flights than YM to/from Belgrade-Montenegro?

      Delete
    2. Nemjee09:14

      I think for years now YM has carried more passengers between the two countries. Maybe this is changing now. I mean, YM must remain relevant on the MNE-BEG market as without it they would go bankrupt.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:21

      Nemjee do you have datas for Podgorica to Beograd and Ljubljana?

      Delete
    4. Nemjee15:41

      Sure thing.

      TGD-BEG

      2016: 282.874
      2017: 293.913

      Q1 2017: 63.703
      Q1 2018: 59.652

      TGD-LJU

      2016: 37.070
      2017: 49.824

      Q1 2017: 7.373
      Q1 2018: 10.583

      Q2 2017: 10.975
      Q2 2018: 16.628

      Delete
    5. Anonymous16:49

      Do Slovenians go for holidays to Montenegro?

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:07

    It is interesting how TGD-LJU ops have grown. From 3 per week by Montenegro just a year and a half ago to over 10 weekly flights.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:12

      Good that they are fighting back against JP. I thought they didn't stand a chance and that they would have to suspend the route eventually but they are actually increasing frequencies.

      Delete
    2. Both JU and JP booming in Montenegro, only incompetent OU ceased TGD flights

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:38

      Did OU fly to Podgorica seasonally or year round?

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:10

    Ok network for winter operations out of Montenegro in my opinion.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous09:11

    Their network hasn't been changed for years. Same old, same old.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:14

      What more can they do? They have covered Germany, Austria, France and Switzerland for gasterbaiters during winter + Serbia. There is not that much demand for Montenegro in winter from other types of passengers.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:29

      A few years ago Montenegro Airlines used to fly to Pristina and Skopje. I'm pretty certain TGD-PRN did quite well.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:32

      They didn't suspend them by choice. They had debt towards PRN and SKP. PRN held up their plane for an entire day because of outstanding debt. After that they suspended flights to PRN and SKP straight away.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:42

      Ah ok. thanks

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:43

      That happened some time ago. Two years ago they finally repaid debt to Pristina and Skopje airport so they can restart these flights if they want to.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:50

      At one point Podgorica had flights to all ex-Yu capital cities. Now only Belgrade and Ljubljana.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous09:57

      I am still sad OU suspended TGD, they were a really nice addition. Maybe now when they do so well in SKP they might consider returning?!

      Delete
    8. Anonymous10:55

      Would be nice. But they ended PRN as well so they don't seem to focus on the region much. The only ex-Yu city OU flies to outside of Croatia is Skoplje.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous12:17

      Since when Sarajevo and Mostar are in Croatia?

      Delete
    10. Anonymous12:22

      OU does well in SKP so why they ignore TGD? They could do well like JU and JP.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:13

    So the Fokkers will finally be retired at the end of winter?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:15

      Well they originally said Fokkers would leave at end of winter of last year. So I wouldn't take their word. It's like Air Serbia retiring its B737s.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:17

      We will see what happens by the summer. There is a high chance MGX will be sold.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:48

      The Fokkers will outlive the company :D

      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:14

    So 44 weekly flights divided by 4 planes gives 11 weekly flights per plane. It seems a bit too low for me even if you include winter gambling charters. Why don't they lease one Embraer during the winter? It would surely help their finances.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:48

      With 4 aircraft they could have explored some other destinations during the winter. There are surely some unserved profitable routes.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:54

      They need only 2 planes for winter operations.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous15:17

      Exactly my thought and what I wanted to write. Only 2 planes needed plus 1 backup so they can try to lease out two.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:43

    timetable is alright.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous09:44

    Thanks for providing us with these for all airlines. Much appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:53

      Yes, good to compare and contrast. This winter, it doesn't seem many are making major changes.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous10:00

    Retiring the F100s is smart move in my opinion. They are becoming an increasingly uneconomical aircraft.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous10:52

    Nice crew :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:21

      I was thinking the same, super nice crew :)

      Delete
    2. Anonymous16:24

      Montenegro airlines - always nice looking stewardesses. Really old school approach to running airline. But most of frequent flyers to Montenegro I spoke to actually agree that their male cabin crew is on average much better in terms of service delivery.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous12:09

    I hope they choose the second option for their fleet plans. It would be nice to see a larger plane with the beautiful Montenegro Airlines livery like this year :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:13

      The second option is definitely more risky because they will have a lot of capacity in winter. Now if they can develop a good strategy to employ those planes somewhere over winter then it could work out well.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:19

      They could try and do what Adria does and enter ACMI market in winter.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:22

      That's not easy to do winter when many airlines have access capacity. Ask Air Serbia which has not managed to lease out an A319.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous12:34

      Exactly. Easier said then done.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous12:55

      Stick to one fleet type, either all Embraer or replace the entire fleet. 2 model fleets don't work in a small airline - there's increased maintenance, training and resourcing costs.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous14:33

      But if it's all Embraer they will still need to lease extra capacity in summer.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous16:20

      They should go to all E195 fleet like AirDolomiti. As there operations grow they could just add more to the fleet.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous12:14

    The only true legacy flag carrier left in ex-Yu.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous15:47

      Hahahahahahaha

      Delete
    2. Anonymous16:15

      They have a proper service! Last left with one. Over the years I have become very fond of that little money burning excersise :)

      Delete
  13. Anonymous14:35

    Their network has been unchanged for years.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous14:36

    What happened with the other Fokkers? Have they been sold or are they just sitting in Podgorica?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:40

      used for spare parts.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous16:09

      They should organise some "fly the last Fokkers in Europe" campaign to atrack passangees. If these are last left :)

      Delete
    3. It is not last Fokker in Europe:

      Avanti Air (Njemačka) - 2
      Carpatair (Rumunjska) - 3
      Helvetic (Švicarska) - 5
      Trade Air (Hrvatska) - 2
      Tus (Cipar) - 2
      Ukupno: 14 bez Montenegra

      Delete
    4. Anonymous21:08

      Tnx Purger, so there are few still around.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous14:40

    They used to fly from Podgorica to Moscow for a few years ago. Strange they don't anymore. Does Aeroflot fly to TGD?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:43

      With icy relations between Russia and Montenegro those flights to Moscow will keep going down each season.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14:44

      No Aeroflot does not fly to Podgorica. Only Rossiya Airlines flies from Moscow to Podgorica and only during the summer.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous14:45

      Russians that come to Montenegro land at Tivat so they can be on the coast. What are they going to do in Podgorica?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous16:05

      Not really. Many have properties in the South part of the coast. Podgorica Is more convenient plus it is practically a seaside airport :)))

      Delete
  16. Anonymous16:04

    TIV-DME/SVO/VKO it's more than enough: it's like a shuttle service-every 15-20 minutes(summer) you have a 'bus' to Moscow or Tivat :-) For winter
    , you have 4-5 daily ops to Moscow-more that for BEG.10 carriers competes on that route but Pobeda,S7,RedWings & Aeroflot is always full!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous18:22

    The ladies in the photo have Asian looking eyes. Is it the make up?

    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.