PREMIUM
The Montenegrin aviation sector has been severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic and the travel restrictions the country put in place last year. Montenegro restricted entry to Serbian and Russian citizens for almost half a year, which make up the two largest groups of foreign arrivals in the country. Coupled with entry restrictions put in place by European Union member states towards Montenegrin nationals, and the collapse of Montenegro Airlines in the dying days of 2020, Podgorica and Tivat airports have suffered the greatest consequences. The latter, which serves as a gateway for Russian airlines in the country, has been particularly hit. Over 600.000 passengers flew between Moscow and Tivat in 2019 alone, with no commercial traffic between the two cities since March 2020.
Although Montenegro is now open to foreigners in possession of a negative PCR test, Russia is yet to approve flights with the Balkan state. The Russian government is capping the number of flights and airlines that can serve particular routes. Within the former Yugoslavia, it has only permitted the resumption of services with Serbia, limiting operations to the Moscow - Belgrade route. Despite attempts by Montenegro Airlines to lobby both local and Russian authorities for the restoration of flights prior to its collapse, it has been unsuccessful. Although the Russia to Tivat market is significant, Montenegro Airlines had a small share and its demise will not have a major impact.
In 2019, 631.571 passengers flew between Moscow and Tivat, with a further 62.147 carried on services between St. Petersburg and Tivat. Passenger numbers on the two city-pairs has grown significantly over the past few years despite deteriorating relations between Russia and Montenegro, which culminated in 2017 when the Russian government warned its citizens against travel to Montenegro. The newly elected government in Montenegro, which marks a change in its ruling elite for the first time in almost thirty years, has said it will not drop sanctions imposed against Russia in line with European Union foreign policy. However, the new Prime Minister has vowed to rebuild bridges with the country.
Passengers carried between Moscow Domodedovo and Tivat by year
Passengers carried between Moscow Vnukovo and Tivat by year
Passengers carried between Moscow Sheremetyevo and Tivat by year
Passengers carried between St. Petersburg and Tivat by year
Tivat is served by Aeroflot from Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport on a year-round basis, as well as S7 Airlines from Domodedovo Airport. Others, such as Ural Airlines, Red Wings and Yamal maintain seasonal operations from Domodedovo to Tivat, while Pobeda maintains summer flights from Vnukovo Airport. In addition, Rossiya and Yamal fly seasonally from St. Petersburg. On the other hand, there are no scheduled flights from Russia to Podgorica.
Between 5.000 and 7.000 Russians are permanent residents in Montenegro. Russians accounted for 29.1% of all overnight stays in the country in 2019, ahead of citizens of neighbouring Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is expected for flights from Russia to Tivat to resume in March 2021, although there is no firm confirmation this will actually occur. At this early stage, Pobeda, Aeroflot, Ural Airlines and S7 plan to serve Tivat from Moscow’s various airports, as well as St Petersburg, while Ural Airlines will also fly from Samara’s international airport (Kurumoch) to the Montenegrin coastal city. Jointly, they plan to offer 497.420 seats between the two markets across 2.782 flights (return service included).
Two-way frequency and capacity by Russian carrier to Tivat in summer 2021
Frequency and capacity by Russian carrier by route in summer 2021
