Low cost carrier Ryanair will halt flights between Charleroi and Podgorica from November 5, making it the fourth route to be discontinued by the airline from the Montenegrin capital this coming winter season. It previously announced that services from Podgorica to Zagreb, Barcelona and Manchester would also be discontinued at the end of October. Ryanair previously said, “Due to Podgorica Airport’s decision to increase their fees, we are forced to discontinue some flights from Podgorica this winter. The fee hike makes Podgorica Airport completely uncompetitive compared to other European airports which reduce their fees to stimulate recovery and traffic growth. This will have a detrimental impact on Montenegro’s connectivity, tourism and the economy”.
Ryanair was Montenegro’s busiest low cost carrier handling 249.959 passengers on flights to and from Podgorica last year. The figure represents an increase of over 200% on 2021 and up 30.8% on the pre-pandemic 2019. Its average annual cabin load factor in Podgorica last year stood at 82.3%. During 2022, the carrier handled 32.576 passengers on its Charleroi service, which was the first route it launched to Montenegro back in 2013. In addition, it welcomed 28.745 passengers on the Zagreb route, which commenced in 2021, as well as 12.626 travellers on the Barcelona service, which was introduced in 2019.
This winter, Ryanair will maintain flights from Podgorica to just four destinations: Berlin, Gdansk, Krakow and London Stansted. It has placed 79.108 seats on the market, down 32.5% on the previous winter. As a result, Wizz Air will overtake Ryanair as Montenegro’s largest low cost carrier this winter, based on capacity, even though it will suspend flights from Podgorica to Rome Fiumicino and Vienna over the winter period. However, Wizz has said both routes will be restored during the 2024 summer season, which begins on March 31 of next year. “As part of our constant analysis and search for new route options, Wizz Air has decided to temporarily suspend flights between Vienna and Podgorica, as well as between Rome and Podgorica. However, we are pleased to inform that these routes will continue to be operated during the summer season. This strategic adjustment enables the optimisation of operations while ensuring that passengers can enjoy the convenience and availability of these routes during peak travel period”, Wizz Air said in a statement.
Montenegro’s largest carriers by seat capacity, winter 2023/24
Comments
We have to ask ourselves if the airport even profited and made money from the discounts they got. There has to be a reason why they are increasing them.
Also please don't forget that EU economy slowing down also plays a role. The EU just revised their growth projections for 2023. It was lowered from 1.1% to 0.8% with Germany going from bad to worse. This will impact demand for air travel and we are already seeing how many gasto heavy routes were cut in recent times.
The market is obviously not there, it's not the end of the world.
I agree that the EU economic slowdown negatively impacts ethnic travel to the region. These people are usually working low paying jobs and are the most affected by rising inflation. If they used to travel back home 3 or 4 times per year now they will do it once or twice.
+100
You are welcome.
The management obviously came to the conclusion that it doesnt make sense to cannibalize yourself.
Now Ryanair in Tirana will massively decrease prices to fight Wizz Air and this will of course result in that their customer base will switch to there.
It really shows how far behind they are from civilized countries in mentality.
It's as Pozdrav says; OU is too busy connecting all 9 Cro airports to Frankvurst and Minšen
It's literally everything else BUT the drmand.