Montenegro’s new national carrier, Air Montenegro, which will commence operations on June 10 with flights from Podgorica and Tivat to Belgrade, will add further two destinations to its route network by the end of the month. The airline will introduce flights from Tivat to Ljubljana and Banja Luka from June 27. Services to the Slovenian capital will operate three times per week, while flights to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s second largest city will run twice per week. The two will join the network as Air Montenegro plans to add a second Embraer E195 jet to its fleet by the end of the month. Tickets for the two have now been put on sale through the airline’s website. Air Montenegro’s return fares to Banja Luka start from 89 euros, while return tickets to Ljubljana begin from 129 euros in economy class.
| Route | Launch date |
|---|---|
| Podgorica - Belgrade | 10.06.2021 |
| Tivat - Belgrade | 10.06.2021 |
| Tivat - Ljubljana | 27.06.2021 |
| Tivat - Banja Luka | 27.06.2021 |
Air Montenegro’s predecessor, Montenegro Airlines, maintained flights from Podgorica to Ljubljana until its demise. During the pre-pandemic 2019, when the service was also maintained by the now defunct Adria Airways, Ljubljana was Podgorica’s fourth busiest route, with 55.758 passengers travelling between the two capital cities. On the other hand, flights between Banja Luka and Tivat were last operated in 2014, when the now defunct B&H Airlines maintained a one weekly seasonal service between the two cities for two months, although tickets could only be purchased through a single tour operator, rather than directly from the airline itself. Based on OAG data, Air Serbia, as the only airline offering transfer options out of Banja Luka, carried 310 passengers between the city and Tivat in the 2019 and 92 travellers between Tivat and Ljubljana. In 2020, these figures stood at 63 and 24 respectively.
Commenting on the new network additions, Air Montenegro said, “Due to market demand and significant interest expressed by travellers from Banja Luka and Ljubljana to fly to Montenegro, the company’s management has decided to launch these two routes”. The carrier’s CEO, Predrag Todorović, added, “We expect the introduction of additional new routes in the coming period”. Montenegro’s State Secretary, Zoran Radunović, previously said that in addition to Belgrade and Ljubljana, flights to Frankfurt will also be introduced, while EX-YU Aviation News learns the carrier is also considering commencing operations to Istanbul.
Will these routes operate from Podgorica in winter?
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing Ljubljana will move to Podgorica while Banja Luka will just be a seasonal route.
DeleteTGD-LJU could also operate in summer. TIV-LJU 2/3x per week (seasonal route) and TGD-LJU 6x in summer and 4x in winter.
DeleteIs there really demand for both Podgorica and Tivat to be served from Ljubljana?
DeleteMontenegro airlines planned daily TGD-LJU in summer 2020. So just move 2 or 3 flights from TGD to TIV and you have 2-3 TIV-LJU and 5-6 TGD-LJU.
DeleteFinally something new for Ljubljana :D
ReplyDelete+1 it's just that the most we can get excited about is Tivat
DeleteTheir first four routes are all in ex-Yu :D
ReplyDeleteMakes sense
DeletePlaying safe is good.
ReplyDeleteLJU, plus what looks like a 'regular' seasonal charter to B Luka.
It's not a charter...
DeleteTickets are too expensive.
ReplyDeleteYou always have bus option, but only slightly less...
DeleteThey really aren't that expensive either. This is an airline after all.
DeleteEUR44.50 each way is by no means expensive. Drive the route and you’ll be begging to fly back after driving those roads.
DeleteStill can't get over that logo...
ReplyDeleteThey do really need to change it.. eagle is fine but the rest needs to be changed immediately.. who in their right mind would allow it.. what a tragedy
DeleteThank goodness they at least changed the name from To Montenegro.
DeleteI also don't get the point of having a double logo. The eagle and the one with the written text.
DeleteThe shortened version of the logo that is displayed in the "Trending in May" article looks ok.
DeleteAgree looks better
DeleteI hope these can work.
ReplyDeleteThey should really start working on their promotion. They have no commercials, they have no social media, their website cannot be found anywhere unless you directly type in their address and they start flights in ten days.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I don't think the average person from Ljubljana or Banja Luka or Belgrade know they even exist.
DeleteDon't they have Lufthansa Systems to advise them about this?
DeleteI assume most of these tickets to Tivat will be sold through tour operators. But I do agree they need to increase their visibility.
DeleteIt would be a disaster if they missed the summer season. That's why everything is a bit rushed but I'm sure they will address this issue.
DeleteIt would be a disaster rushing for the season, only to have empty loads due to not advertising you exist. I hope thats not the case and I'm proven wrong.
DeleteThere would be no point starting on winter.
DeleteGambling ADDICTS are called ADDICTS for a reason Air Montenegro hello! Addiction means frequent flyers! Bari and Naples are calling!
ReplyDeleteWatch you talkin bout Willis!
DeleteMontenegro Airlines used to fly to Bari once per week for years, mainly for people going gamboling.
DeleteThat must have one long week of gamboling.
DeleteI never understood these flights. So it was for gambling tours?
DeleteIt's really unfortunate their planes will be white all season (and something tells me they will never get the final livery). They should have at least left the tail logo which is more or less the same as before.
ReplyDeleteGood to see Ljubljana in the line up
ReplyDeleteFinally!
DeleteMontenegro keeps winning!
ReplyDeleteI'm really surprised there is no Zurich.
ReplyDeleteYou have Chair Airlines for that.
DeleteSmart network to start off with
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that all of them are in exYu.
DeleteI understand BEG and LJU. I'm guessing there is demand for summer holidays from BNX.
ReplyDeleteExactly
DeleteGood luck to the new airline.
ReplyDeleteI think this network indicates they won't be some Lufthansa feeder as some people have said.
ReplyDeleteGood luck Air Montenegro!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe how quickly this process went through! It was just a matter of a couple of months and the new airline is now a reality.
ReplyDeleteSo much about some so called regional experts saying Air Montenegro won't be flying any time soon.
DeleteMGX was grounded around 25th of December. New airline will launch 10th of June. Not bad at all.
DeleteVery quick by any standard.
DeleteAre people from Montenegro allowed to enter Slovenia?
ReplyDeleteNo
Deletewell most of them probably have residency so yes they are allowed to enter.
DeleteLet's now see how sustainable this airline will be and will it be any different from Montenegro Airlines.
ReplyDeleteWell at least they have some support from the Lufthansa consultant.
DeleteI'm interested to see what will remain from YM's original network.
ReplyDeleteThey will announce two new routes by the end of the week.
ReplyDeleteFRA?
DeleteTGD-LJU probably
DeleteIf they were smart, they would enter negotiations to introduce flights to Russia, either Tivat or Podgorica with competitive prices with all-year-round departures, capturing both tourist and transfer
DeleteApparently Russians are not issuing the permits.
DeleteFrankfurt and Istanbul probably.
DeleteThis is also great news for Ljubljana and Banja Luka. Ljubljana because it needs any airline it can get and Banja Luka since it will be their second new airline this summer (after Wizz Air) and fourth airline overall after Air Serbia, Ryanair and Wizz which is great for a small airport.
ReplyDeleteThe more airlines we have in ex-Yu the better.
ReplyDeleteGood to see things are moving in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteThis airline will work fine.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how because I don't see absolutely any difference between them and Montenegro Airlines.
DeleteWith 2 aircraft they can have a respectable network.
ReplyDeleteAn issue with their TGD-BEG flights is that they have just one flight per day. This does not work for a lot of people that just go for business or a day to Podgorica and there are many like that, who need a flight in the morning and in the evening.
ReplyDeleteGood luck, but except for words I don't really see how this time it will be any different from Montenegro Airlines.
ReplyDeleteThey will probably greatly reduce costs.
DeleteHave they obtained a IATA code?
ReplyDeleteGood to see we will have 3 flag carrier in ex-Yu after all.
ReplyDeleteThat was quick
ReplyDeleteGreat news!
ReplyDeleteWatch and learn Slovenians!! Second Switzerland they said in the past, first Zimbabwe is more appropriate address for our country. What a shame.
ReplyDeleteShame that taxpayers don't have to pour millions every year into the blackhole that nearly all small flag carriers worldwide are.
DeleteToday two flights to Ljubljana: just one scheduled to FRA , the other is a "special" from MXP (football I guess)
DeleteWelcome to Slovenia!
@anon 11:08
Deleteit was proved xx times that consequences are much higher because of lack of connectivity than those "millions" which you are talking about. JP had 5 mio loss with 15 aircrafts and even that it was managed by politicians. I can't imagine how we could lose "millions" with 3-4 aircrafts. But OK, you are most probably from Fraport and you have to find excuse for such "good" business you do.
and good luck Air Montenegro!
Don't know how you can lose millions with 3-4 aircraft? Look at the predecessor of the airline in the article. It's very easy to lose a lot of money in the airline business, especially if you are happy to operate at a loss to begin with - it makes everyone involved very passive when it comes to optimising the process.
DeleteAnyway, the issue is also that you can't fund the airline with state aid in perpetuity, according to EU rules.
"defunct" Is the most used word in this article. That shows the how is EX YU region serios in terms of aviation
ReplyDeleteTrue
DeleteWonder how their sales are going
ReplyDeleteThe company said they have sold 1000 tickets so far.
DeleteIt isn't much
DeleteConsidering there have been no ads or anything and it's been just a few days, it's not bad
DeleteHow many destinations is BNX going to have this summer?
ReplyDelete14
DeleteWow impressive
DeleteThey operated their first flight today. The charter to Sarajevo for the national football team. From what I see they haven't changed anything inside the cabins.
ReplyDeleteWhy would they? They are in good shape
DeleteSomeone was asking the other day what kind of uniform are the crew wearing and if it is new uniform, it is the MGX uniform.
ReplyDeleteConsidering the logo is more or less the same, there is no point in changing them.
DeleteSame should have been done with the livery.
DeleteFantastic news. Looking forward to more flights and routes.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to AirMNE.
ReplyDeleteBut again, that logo. Ughhh... Kids could have done it better.
I noticed they will be using the code W2 eventhough this is some Danish charter airline?
ReplyDeleteIs there a good connection on JU from BNX to TIV? I'm really surprised over 300 people transferred on a route like this.
ReplyDelete