Montenegro Airlines vs. Belgrade Airport

The feud between Montenegro Airlines and Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport regarding landing fees continues. The Serbian Minister of Infrastructure, Milutin Mrkonjić, has said that he is negotiating with the Montenegrin Minister for Transportation in order for landing fees, for Montenegro Airlines in Belgrade and Jat Airways in Tivat and Podgorica, to be identical. Jat Airways currently pays the same landing fees at Montenegrin airports as do other international airlines while Montenegro Airlines pays lower fees in Belgrade due to the fact that it is still categorised as a domestic carrier. However when Belgrade Airport increased prices for Montenegro Airlines, a few days ago, in order to bring them in standard with fees payed by international carriers, Montenegro Airlines accused the Belgrade Airport management of a political move while the Montenegrin Minister for Transportation, Andrija Lompar, threatened that Montenegrin airports would increase Jat’s landing fees. Jat Airways CEO says that the airline has been put in the centre of this feud even though it has nothing to do with it. He also stated that Jat will not increase ticket prices to Tivat or Podgorica.

Montenegro is the most profitable market for Jat Airways while Serbia is most profitable for Montenegro Airlines. The national carrier of Montenegro was forced to end services from Belgrade to Zurich after the nation declared independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro however operates many daily flights between Tivat, Podgorica and Belgrade. Montenegro Airlines currently pays fees at Belgrade Airport that are 90% lower than other international carriers and even Jat Airways.