The Montenegrin government is expected to name the new concessionaire of Podgorica and Tivat airports on June 9. Two bids have officially been submitted for the thirty-year management contract. The Tender Commission confirmed that proposals were received from South Korea’s Incheon International Airport Corporation and the South American Luxembourg-based Corporacion America Airports. The bids were opened on May 9, and the evaluation process is expected to be completed within thirty days, at which point an announcement is anticipated. The much-delayed concession process aims to bring long-term investment and improved airport services. Aeroports de Paris - TAV, which were also in the running, withdrew from the process.
Incheon International Airport, which manages South Korea’s main hub in Seoul, has been attempting to establish a foothold in the region. It was a finalist in the concession processes in both Zagreb and Belgrade but ultimately missed out to its French counterparts. It also runs the airports in Manila, Jakarta and Kuwait Terminal 4. Corporacion America Airports operates 52 airports in six countries across Latin America and Europe, including in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador, Armenia and Italy. It previously bid for the concession of Belgrade Airport.
The airport workers’ union has voiced concerns over transparency in the concession process and the protection of employee rights. They criticised the absence of worker representation in the tender commission and called for legal guarantees safeguarding labour agreements in the event of a change in ownership or management.
The criteria for the bidding parties include the operation of at least one airport handling a minimum of five million international passengers annually over the past three years, and another airport with at least two million passengers annually over the same period; or operation of a single airport with at least ten million international passengers annually over the past three years. The bidder must also have experience in the development, design, engineering, procurement and construction, or management and monitoring of construction of an airport project with a minimum aggregate value of 300 million euros over the last ten years, including at least one project worth 100 million euros.
It's going to be Inchein no doubt.
ReplyDelete* Incheon
DeleteFor sure especially since the PM studied and lived in Asia and is very keen to get investment from that region.
DeleteFor sure! We will have Podgorica Seoul direct in 2 years tops
DeleteDon't be surprised if there are charters for tourists.
DeleteDoes Incheon airport company manage any other airport outside South Korea?
Delete^You could, for exampl, read the article...
DeleteHopefully it will be the Koreans. they could turn the airports in Montenegro into the best of the YUG. And even the wider region. Just don't know how the easy and gentle working culture of Montenegro will work with the Korean working culture of dying for the company
DeleteI think the Argentinian company would be a better fit.
DeleteThey are used to working in countries with a lot of bureaucracy and non far East Asian work ethic.
Finally. This has dragged on for so long.
ReplyDeleteI'm very interested to see what this will mean for these two airports in terms of traffic development.
ReplyDeleteSo much for that Wizz base the airport's CEO has announced. Doubt they will make any decision before negotiating with new operator.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteBoth airports need serious infrastructure investment.
ReplyDeleteLongest concession selection process. Started in 2019!
DeleteFraport should take them. It's a proven company with great success in the region :)
ReplyDeleteIn Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, Peru, Germany, China, Brazil they are. But somehow they have failed in LJU to turn it into a hub or something because ...they hate Slovenia.
DeleteIt absolutely, positively has nothing to do with the dynamic of the local market, NO, it has to be the Germans who hate us.
It has to do with the fact that Ljubljana has a completely unique arrangement with Fraport compared to all those other places. Fraport is concentrated on the development around the airport because that brigs them money. More cargo flights for the factories and depots around the airport. When the likes of you compare LJU to other Fraport airports saying how anyone complaining against Fraport is crazy because they do a great job at other airports around the world (which is not true either), they forget that LJU is not under concession. Fraport is literally leasing the airport and surrounding land from the government. It was not a classic concession that you have at many other airports.
Delete^ LOL dude.
DeleteThere we go with the Fraport and LH blabla
Delete@10:56 the only one who should be LOLed at is you for saying that Fraport is doing good job in Bulgaria.
DeleteIt is a well known exyu blog "fact" that Fraport invested so hundreds of millions of Euros to LJU only to sabotage it. Because they hate Slovenia in general and Ljubljana in particular. 🤪
DeleteAnother well known fact on this blog is how delusional Fraport fanboys are!
DeleteThe only delusional here is you who thinks Fraport has fanboys whenever someone points simple facts.
DeleteWhat facts? 😂
DeleteDenial of reality is a typical characteristic of delusional people.
DeleteI think the South American company would be better suited for these two airports considering their profile.
ReplyDeleteSame
DeleteCorporacion America has a good footprint in both Europe and Latin America. They know how to work with diverse markets. Could be a great fit for Montenegro.
DeleteSurprising that a European company is not in the running.
ReplyDeleteMarket is too small so it's not too interesting for them. For foreigners any airport in Europe is appealing.
DeleteThe fact that there are just 2 bidders says it all.
DeleteWhat price will they get for the two airports?
ReplyDeleteThat is what the two bidders need to bid for.
DeleteSo another ex-Yu capital airport gone to foreigners. Sarajevo is the only one left...
ReplyDeleteWe will see how long it can resist.
DeleteIt won't happen anytime soon because there is too much politics involved in Bosnia for it to get all approvals.
DeleteGreat to see Montenegro finally moving forward with the airport concession. Either of these would be good and better than state management.
ReplyDeleteIf we don't see another delay again.
DeleteWhat will happen to the current CEO Roko Tolic?
ReplyDeleteHow many times has this concession been delayed? And we’re only down to two bidders now? Not exactly a competitive process…
ReplyDeleteHoping they upgrade Tivat Airport. Currently feels like a bus station with a runway.
ReplyDeleteIs there space to build a new terminal at TIV?
DeleteWould there have been more interested if they separated the two airports?
ReplyDeleteThat would be a disaster. Two operators in such a small country would not end well and questionable if you would have any interest in one of the two. Not to mention there is barely interest for this combo either.
DeleteIt would increase competition
DeleteLet's hope new operator can, after 60 years, enable night flights from/to Tivat.
ReplyDeleteImagine if Tivat airport was shut down, Podgorica airport tripled capacity and highway was built between Podgorica and Budva/Tivat area.
ReplyDeleteWho would finance all that? You do realize that would cost hundreds of billions of Euros.
DeleteLand reclaimed from Tivat airport would be sold for prime real estate development. TGD would have 4-5 million passengers once two airports are combined. Direct highway must be built sooner or later, not the planned dumb one that circles around half of Montenegro.
DeleteTo leave the coast with no airport... Why do you think the largest investments have taken place around Tivat? There needs to be an airport in Bar/Ulcinj region as well.
DeleteThe article is silent about ADP withdrawal. Can we shed more light on this?
ReplyDelete