Low cost carrier Wizz Air is considering establishing a base at Podgorica Airport in early 2026. According to the CEO of operator Airports of Montenegro, Roko Tolić, Wizz Air plans to initially station two aircraft in Podgorica, with the potential addition of a third jet later on. This development follows extensive discussions, which also involved the Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and the Minister for Transport Maja Vukićević. Further discussions between the airport operator and Wizz Air are scheduled for the end of April to finalise the details of the proposed base. “This is an opportunity not to be missed”, Mr Tolić said.
The establishment of a base would enable Wizz Air to introduce new routes from Podgorica, including destinations not previously served from Montenegro. Mr Tolić emphasised the mutual benefits of this partnership, noting that while the airport operator may accept lower per-passenger fees, the broader economic impact, such as increased tourism and job creation, would be substantial. The base opening will require Podgorica Airport to expand its infrastructure. This includes extending terminal capacity to accommodate Wizz Air aircraft in the morning peak when the airport is already serving Air Montenegro, Air Serbia, Austrian Airlines and Turkish Airlines, constructing additional aircraft parking positions, and extending existing operational hours, with staff shifts beginning as early as 03:45 in the morning to manage the increased flight schedule.
Wizz Air currently serves Podgorica from Budapest, Dortmund, Memmingen and Milan Malpensa on a year-round basis, as well as Katowice, London Gatwick, Vienna and Warsaw seasonally. According to Mr Tolić, the budget carrier will add a new route out of the Montenegrin capital this winter. Over the previous winter season, Ryanair, which traditionally had more passengers than Wizz Air in Montenegro, turned all but one of its Podgorica routes seasonal, which has impacted the airport’s passenger figures so far this year. Wizz Air currently boasts two bases in the former Yugoslavia - in Skopje and Belgrade. It previously closed its bases in Tuzla and Sarajevo. Following over a year of stagnation, Wizz Air is preparing to expand its operation in the region as it takes delivery of new aircraft, alleviating fleet shortages caused by engine inspections on Airbus neo aircraft.
How to end your national carrier 1o1.Bit great for the connectivity
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteThe national carrier needs codeshare partners. JU, OS and OU (by launching TGD-ZAG) would be good places to start. TK is also worth considering.
DeleteTGD only works from 6AM. In October last year TGD could not be bothered to open the airport an hour earlier for the Montenegrin football team which had to circle around Podgorica for an hour until the staff showed up, But now have no issue to jump through hoops to open for Wizz at 3AM. Had Air Montenegro asked them, they would have said they are closed at that time.
DeleteMy father used to work for Jat back in the old days. During sanctions, flights were canceled from time to time. So one day, Jat flight to Podgorica departed... and the doorman or whoever they managed to get on the phone at TGD said: 'Bogomi, ođe nema nikoga'. So the bird flew back.
DeleteWhich new routes could be introduced?
ReplyDeleteI could see seasonal TLV, LCA, ATH, OTP, BUD, PRG, WAW, EIN, FCO.
DeleteIt would be fantastic if they were able to fly to BEG too.
I could see LTN, maybe even SKP and SOF.
DeleteSpain routes would be great too!
DeleteWizz Air can't fly to Tel Aviv from Podgorica.
Delete^ difficult concept for some to understand here no matter how many times it is explained.
Delete@9.30
DeleteWas it difficult to read the article? It says Wizz Air already flies Budapest and already flies Warsaw.
@9.34
Wizz already flies London-Podgorice.
Read the damn article.
I'd say one of the Baltic states would be introduced for sure.
DeleteIs Wizz Air allowed to fly from TGD to SJJ?
DeleteNo, Wizz Air is allowed to fly only to EU states from TGD. They can't fly to UK either, unless it is Wizz Air UK flight.
DeleteMaybe to ljubljana… from skopje they are successful
Delete@15.02 Ljubljana is already served by Air Montenegro. Can't the Montenegrin state block Wizz Air then? Maybe Wizz Air should launch Maribor instead.
DeleteNo, it can not block an EU carrier from flying from Montenegro to an EU state. I am certain Wizz will not operate any route that Air Montenegro flies to, not that there are many.
DeleteTIA is enough
DeleteRegarding the freedoms, how comes Eagean operates Skopje Podgorica, or it used to operate?
DeleteAegean does not operate nor has it ever operated Skopje-Podgorica. It operated Skopje-Sarajevo as it received permission from Greek, Macedonian and Bosnian authorities to operate the route on the basis that there are no flag carriers in either Macedonia and Bosnia which could operate the route instead.
DeleteThis would be great news for TGD!
ReplyDeleteThis could be a game-changer for Podgorica Airport. With more destinations and increased frequency, Montenegro might finally get the air links it deserves.
DeleteAnd of course they get reduced fees while others don't.
ReplyDeleteWhat's your problem with that?
DeleteThe problem is that they can use the subsidies to undercut the national carrier, beat them to extinction and then leave when they cannot milk the cow anymore.
DeleteWhy is this a problem? If you remove their subsidies, they leave. It's hardly a surprise when the market is small and poor.
DeleteWizz Air’s commitment to Podgorica will depend on how sustainable the incentives are. Let's hope this doesn’t go the way of Tuzla and Sarajevo.
DeleteWizz showing how it's done. Zero subsidies, zero meetings, just station aircraft and go
ReplyDeleteEven if he didn't read the article, the title says "negotiating" meaning they are having meetings with someone.
DeleteLOL zero meetings?? Zero subsidies?? This has to be a joke.
Delete"This development follows extensive discussions, which also involved the Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and the Minister for Transport Maja Vukićević."
Delete"Further discussions between the airport operator and Wizz Air are scheduled for the end of April to finalise the details of the proposed base. "
A new base with two aircraft stationed could mean 10, maybe more new destinations on a 3 times a week frequency. Possible more!
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DeleteNo it does not. Because if they do open a base, Podgorica based Wizz planes will take over all the routes that they operate so far from Podgorica which are written in the article with exception to London which will be operated with UK based aircraft.
DeleteGreat news for Montenegro! A Wizz Air base would mean more affordable flights and better connectivity, especially for the diaspora and tourism.
ReplyDeleteTGD is already a zoo in the mornings and without doubt one of the worst capital city airports in Europe, where passengers can't even enter the departure area less than an hour before boarding. So hopefully they do expand it.
ReplyDeleteThe airport isn’t exactly built for a base but let's see. Would not want to be at the airport with 2 paced Wizz A321s, Turkish, Air Serbia, Austrian and Air Montenegro at the same time.
DeleteWhy is the government so focused on Wizz Air?
ReplyDeleteBecause tourism is down and Air Montenegro is a lost cause.
DeleteI guess cheap labour in Montenegro will help Wizz bottom line.
ReplyDeleteThis will affect TIA the most. Many Montenegrin citizens use cheap flights from Albania.
ReplyDeleteYeah, "all the 10 million" Montenegrins that fly from Tirana !
DeleteExactly, yes. Now they will fly from their capital, not from nearby ones
DeleteMeanwhile in the small village of Brnik....
ReplyDelete