Turkish Airlines will temporarily suspend flights between Istanbul and Tivat from next month, which comes as a result of softer demand following the Montenegrin government’s decision to reintroduce visa requirements for Turkish nationals after a violent incident in Podgorica in October. The carrier will continue operating the route until January 4, with one additional rotation scheduled for January 11, after which services will be paused. Turkish Airlines plans to resume flights on March 1. The carrier had initially intended to operate three weekly services between the two cities throughout the first quarter of the year. Air Montenegro will continue to serve the Istanbul - Tivat route during the two-month suspension period.
Turkish Airlines will also reduce services to Podgorica in January, cutting frequencies from the initially planned eighteen weekly flights to fourteen. Several Turkish tour operators redirected tourists to alternative markets after Montenegro introduced visa requirements for Turkish nationals, which negatively impacted demand. However, this week Montenegro reinstated visa-free travel for Turkish citizens, while reducing the maximum permitted length of stay from ninety to thirty days. The Montenegrin government said cooperation with Turkish authorities has been strengthened, alongside enhanced security and migration checks, adding that Montenegro retains the option to reintroduce visa requirements should security risks arise.
The operator of Podgorica and Tivat airports, Airports of Montenegro, has confirmed it is in negotiations to introduce scheduled services to Antalya. Its CEO, Roko Tolić, said, “We are in talks with a major airline that could connect us with Antalya – a destination loved worldwide and recognised for its ‘all-inclusive’ offering. At the same time, we believe we have plenty to offer in return”.
Currently, Turkish Airlines, Air Montenegro and Pegasus Airlines operate scheduled services between Montenegro and Turkey. Following the introduction of visa requirements, Pegasus discontinued two of its three Podgorica routes, suspending flights from Ankara and Izmir.
The damage has already been dkbe for this winter.
ReplyDelete*done
Delete3 weekly flights less foe a period of under two months is hardly a damage.
DeleteEspecially considering the enhanced border and migration checks.
Pegasus suspended two routes and Turkish has decreased frequencies to Podgorica. So yes it is damage. Podgorica's passenger numbers have also been declining for months.
DeleteActually it hasn't been declining:
Delete"Passenger traffic at Montenegro's 2 intl airports up 9.2% y/y in Q3"
https://seenews.com/news/passenger-traffic-at-montenegros-2-intl-airports-up-9-2-percent-yy-in-q3-1284830
Yes, it has been declining at Podgorica. That's why they give a joint figure only. To dilute the decrease.
DeleteThey are always reported like that by Montenegro Airports for years!
DeleteBut somehow it is another Balkan conspiracy at play here...
Montenegro can’t afford to play politics with tourism. Every lost flight hurts the economy more than people realise.
Delete^^^
DeleteNeither Montenegro nor any other country can have open border policies and its people suffering from crime committed by foreigners.
If a real tourist wants to visit the country and respect its laws and its citizens is more than welcome.
Also please spare us your concern about our economy and how it impacts our people. You can instead demand that your country opens up its own borders and airport to whomever wants to come with no checks. No?
@ 13:53
Delete+1
Great news for Air Montenegro
ReplyDeleteDidn't Air Montenegro gift them 3 weekly flights so they can secure a codeshare?
DeleteYes they did
DeletePodgorica's passenger numbers have been declining all winter. This won't help.
ReplyDeleteActually they have not but keep trying.
Delete"Passenger traffic at Montenegro's 2 intl airports up 9.2% y/y in Q3"
https://seenews.com/news/passenger-traffic-at-montenegros-2-intl-airports-up-9-2-percent-yy-in-q3-1284830
9:12, it says in the article the incident happened in October, which is Q4.
DeleteBoth TGD and TIV Q1 2026 capacity compared to Q1 2025 is increased.
DeleteSource: https://www.exyuaviation.com/2025/12/skopje-belgrade-and-zagreb-lead-q1-2026.html
Is there a statistic how many Turkish citizen visit Montenegro per year?
ReplyDeleteGood that the visa issue has been resolved.
ReplyDeleteIt is also good that checks on who's coming and why have been improved.
DeleteHopefully they don't cancel March flights too
ReplyDeleteif demand actually recovers by then.
DeleteNot surprising at all. The visa decision created uncertainty overnight and airlines react fast when demand drops. At least TK plans to come back in March.
ReplyDeleteMontenegro shot itself in the foot and now has to do damage control. Airlines and tour operators don’t like unpredictability.
ReplyDeleteWhich airline could launch the Antalya flights?
ReplyDeleteAntalya could work well for outbound Montenegrin leisure traffic, not just inbound tourism.
DeleteMaybe AJet?
DeleteOr SunExpress
DeleteOr Corendon Airlines
DeleteTK still has A319s? Looking at the photo
ReplyDeleteYes they do
Delete6 of them
DeleteI hope they reintroduce the DBV route as a result of this.
ReplyDeleteThey initially scrapped DBV winter rotations to introduce TIV winter.