Turkey's TAV Airports Holding, which has become a global brand in airport construction projects and operations, has identified its third potential investment in the former Yugoslavia following Macedonia (Skopje and Ohrid) and Zagreb. The company held talks in with the Montenegrin Minister for Transportation and Maritime Affairs, Osman Nurković, in Skopje yesterday where they discussed the planned privatisation of the country's two airports - Podgorica and Tivat. TAV Airports' Business Development Coordinator, Giray Colpan, and TAV Macedonia Board Member, Zoran Krstevski, plan to visit Montenegro where they will examine in further detail suitable concession models with the government. Montenegro previously outlined plans to put its two international airports up for concession after it was unable secure a loan with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for the expansion of Tivat Airport. "We are currently working on preparing a concession model with the World Bank and I believe this process will be completed swiftly", Montenegro's Prime Minister, Duško Marković, said. He added that the concession is vital in order for Tivat Airport to follow through with its plans to build a new passenger terminal, extend its runway and overhaul its taxiways.
During its talks with the Minister, TAV noted that, "Skopje Airport was handling some 600.000 passengers prior to its takeover and had links to twelve destinations. We now welcome almost two million passengers per year, offering 37 destinations to travellers. The annual growth rate is 15%". Mr Nurković said he was impressed with the results TAV has managed to achieve in Skopje since winning a thirty-year concession of the airport in 2012. It has since invested 110 million euros in Skopje Airport and a further ten million in Ohrid. TAV also holds a singificnt share in the consortium running Zagreb Airport, which earlier this year opened a new terminal building. The French Aéroports de Paris holds a 38% stake in TAV. The Turkish company runs seventeen airports around the world, including Istanbul's Ataturk.
Montenegro's opposition parties have slammed the government's concession plans, noting that operator Airports of Montenegro is one of the country's most profitable public enterprises. It recorded a net profit of 4.3 million euros last year, despite debt of 19.2 million euros towards it owed by Montenegro Airlines. The government is yet to decide whether both Podgorica and Tivat will be offered to an investor as part of a package or whether the two will be put on the market separately. Other details are also being determined. Turkish companies have shown strong interest in airport investments in the former Yugoslavia. Apart from Skopje, Ohrid and Zagreb, which are managed solely or partially by TAV, Pristina Airport is run by Turkey's Limak Holding, while IC Altyapi is bidding as part of a consortium with Incheon International Airport Corporation and VTB Capital for the 25-year concession of Belgrade Airport.
Anyone know how the MNE minister reached Skopje? Was it through Belgrade?
ReplyDeleteGovernment jet I would assume.
Deletegov jet,but someone has arrived via istambul
DeleteAirports of Montenegro is one of the most profitable companies in Crna Gora. Why would you sell it?
ReplyDeleteBecause they need the money to cover losses of unprofitable state companies like Montenegro Airlines
DeleteI was against airport privatization but after I read yesterday that they are using airport profit to take out loans for MGX I fully support getting the airports of state hands.
ReplyDeleteThey do realize that when they sell the airport the new owners won't turn a blind eye towards MGX?
ReplyDeleteGood. If TAV did something similar in Podgorica to what they did in Skopje, that would be amazing
ReplyDeleteMaking it a Wizz Air base?
DeleteWhy not? I would be more than happy with that.
DeleteWizz success in SKP has nothing to do with TAV
DeleteWizz would never have come if the Macedonian government didn't pay them too. That would have happened regardless of TAV.
DeleteWould have preferred if they took over Ljubljana as well.
ReplyDeleteAgree. Maybe some new airlines would have come. Fraport has been a letdown so far.
DeletePodgorica will be hitting a million passengers soon. It needs to expand. The terminal is small.
ReplyDeleteYes! This summer was horrible with big lines forming in front of the airport and people standing in 40C heat.
DeleteSummer 2017 at TGD
Deletehttps://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/20626479_876357309178944_2785982860676471433_o.jpg?oh=064fce8079b2c979fc6a069a471e57b5&oe=5A713215
Similar to Split ;)
DeleteWhat's interesting that in Podgorica you can't clear immigration until about an hour before your flight.
DeleteBecause the area after passport control is limited. That's why.
DeleteWhat is the annual capacity at TGD?
DeleteI think it's 1 million but I'm not 100% sure.
DeleteInteresting. Maybe they get Podgorica and Tivat and are obliged to complete the Berane Airport project too. If I am not mistaken TAV has to build a cargo airport in Stip in Macedonia under the concession agreement.
ReplyDeleteyes, they have that obligation. I think it's time fpr a court session
DeleteNot a surprise. TAV is not managing Istanbul's new airport and they will for sure look to expand their international portfolio to compensate for it.
ReplyDeleteThey have just expanded into Central America and are building Havana Airport's new terminal.
DeleteWhat will happen with Ataturk Airport when the new one in Istanbul is opened?
DeleteIt will be closed
DeleteThe only state-owned company that is profitable, but nevertheless, it needs to be privatized.
ReplyDeleteshow me where they invested 10mio in Ohrid Airport ^^
ReplyDeleteDid they upgrade the terminal?
Deletema jok
DeleteSo another one bites the dust. Now we have under concession or privatization Zagreb, Ljubljana, Skopje, Pristina, Maribor, Portoroz, Ohrid and soon Belgrade.
ReplyDeleteThey will follow eventually
DeleteSarajevo, Dubrovnik and Split will be the only bigger airports left without a concession.
ReplyDeleteSad really
DeleteWhy sad? Dubrovnik and Split can manage on their own, especially Dubrovnik.
DeleteIt is sad only for the corrupt ruling party of Montenegro which has been in power since WW2 under different names
DeleteBy conditions that were in Dubrovnik every airport, Zagreb including, could manage on their own. But Matković was fired because he insist to have same model as Dubrovnik instead of concession.
Deletethink these two airports have a lot of potential but Tivat can no longer grow without a new terminal. A real shame we won't see any construction there any time soon.
ReplyDeleteAre Turkish investing 10 milion euros in Morava regional airport?. After visit Turkish President and couple hundreds businesman to Serbia. According to media Morava will be finaly open!
ReplyDeleteLet hope to be true.
Rodney, Kraljevo.
Yes they are
DeleteSamo brukaju Srbiju. Tadic i Vucic.
DeleteThis would be fantastic for Podgorica and Tivat. TAV has proven itself as a good operator in Macedonia.
ReplyDeleteTAV in Montenegro would be a disaster
ReplyDeleteTivat is a mess during the summer. Expansion is long overdue.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, it is now unrealistic for them to start until 2018 and by the time they finish it will be 2020.
DeleteEven that is optimistic. I doubt construction can start before 2019.
DeleteSvako bi mogao da bude selektor ili menjadjer ajeroporta.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting to see what all of this will mean for Montenegro Airlines.
ReplyDeleteThey will actually have to pay off their debts and airport fees.
DeleteWith what exactly?
DeleteWith state money, what else?
DeleteHaven't you read the news from yesterday? The government said it will continue to back Montenegro Airlines financially so no worries.
DeleteIf they offer MGX and the airports in one package they would kill two flies with one stone.
DeleteWhich airport operator also runs an airline? I have never head of one.
DeletePrague.
DeleteSt. Gallen Altenrhein, too! (People's Viennaline)
DeleteSo we have French, Chinese, Turks and Germans running airports in ex-Yu.
ReplyDeleteGood news for Montenegro. These airports should definitely get a professional management.
ReplyDeleteWhat price could they get?
ReplyDeleteDepends on the period they are given up for concession and what investment is required.
DeleteRemember that the model hasn't been chosen yet. They could decide on an outright privatisation like Ljubljana.
DeleteI doubt it, that would be too controversial and this already isn't sitting well with the public. They will do a similar deal as the Macedonian government did.
DeleteOpposition parties want a referendum to be held in Tivat over this planned concession.
DeleteDakle, danas sam dobio izmjene ugovora o koncesiji ZL Zagreb iz prosinca 2013. I krenuh čitati. Auuuu....
ReplyDeleteČlanak 2.1.c
Nadalje, Davatelj koncesije dodjeljuje Koncesionaru ekskluzivno pravo korištenja i
ostvarivanja koristi od Zemljišta, cjelokupne Nepokretne imovine (uključujući Objekte zračne
luke i sve uzletno/sletne staze, staze za vožnju zrakoplova i stajanke, ali isključujući Objekte
Davatelja koncesije) koja se nalazi ili će se nalaziti na Zemljištu, kao i cjelokupnu Pokretnu
imovinu koja se nalazi na Zemljištu, u svakom slučaju za trajanja Razdoblja koncesije, ali pod
uvjetima iz ugovora između Društva ZLZ d.o.o. i Vladinog Ministarstva obrane u vezi sa
zajedničkim korištenjem Zračne luke Zagreb od strane vojske Republike kao i bilo kojeg
ugovora koji je sljednik tog ugovora.
Što će reči i USS je pod koncesionarom. Koliko ja znam u svijetu se pod koncesiju daje sve osim USS koja ostaje državi.
Članci 4.4. do 4.6. definiraju da koncesionar ima pravo na neplačanje koncesijske naknade u slučaju
- više sile
- stečaja Croatie Airlines
- smanjenja broj letova Croatie Airlines
- bilo kojeg slučaja u kojem pad prometa MZLZ padne za 30% u roku od 3 mjeseca uzstopno unutar 12 mjeseci u usporedbi sa prošlom godinom neovisno o razlogu (to zovu "otežavajuća okolnost")
U članku 4.9. ako Croatia airlines ne plati i jedan račun prema MZLZ ona ima nekoliko modaliteta svoje zaštite:
- naplatu bankarske garancije koji je Država pribavila od neke banke ili financijske institucije u visini od 2 milijuna EUR
- naplatu 1 milijuna EUR iz kapitala MZLZ (mislim da je to onaj garantni iznos koji su morali uplatiti)
- a može se naplatiti i iz fiksne i varijabilne koncesijske naknade (odgoda plačanja)
- sve ovo presaje vrijediti ako Država proda večinsko vlasništvo nad Croatiom Airlines - PAZI MOLIM TE ČUDA!!!! Naravno, treba motivirati državu da proda Croatiu
...nastavak slijedi...
What are the passenger results for Podgorica and Tivat airports this year?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.exyuaviation.com/2017/09/ex-yu-airports-handle-over-17-million.html
DeleteAnd since then Tivat has surpassed 1 million http://www.exyuaviation.com/2017/09/tivat-airport-handles-millionth.html
DeleteWow fantastic results for Tivat and Podgorica!!!
DeleteSo combined, they should have over 2 million passengers this year.
DeleteYes, at least.
DeleteRegarding the profitability of Montenegro airports, I honestly would not be surprised if they falsified their financial reports like Montenegro Airlines did for years
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have any info about the original plans for Stip? Any progress or is it shelved?
ReplyDeleteThey are still doing "weather studies" but it looks as if it won't be built because the area is not suitable. They said if it isn't built they will invest the planned money into SKP.
Deletethey should build one in region of Strumica, it would be strategicly wiser
DeleteI agree with other here that Podgorica will need to expand. There are already a number of new airlines launching flights this winter and next summer and more announcements are to come.
ReplyDeleteDo you know which ones?
DeleteWhatever they do, they should do it properly through a tender and by collecting all the bids from interested parties. Who knows what other offers they might get, the Montenegrin airports have been performing impressively.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of just pax numbers growth Skopje is No.1 in ex-yu over the past 5 years. Then Split. And then either Tivat, or Dubrovnik, not sure.
Is that the Podgorica Airport in the photo?
ReplyDeleteYes. With the new terminal opened in 2006.
DeleteThank you
DeleteRussians also in the past wanted to get concession of Montenegro airports.
ReplyDeleteHope they get a good price.
ReplyDeleteI think this would be a good opportunity for TAV to expand its portfolio in the Balkans.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised TAV hasn't bid for Belgrade Airport.
DeleteThey couldn't. They were disqualified by the fact that BEG limited the range of companies to not having any airport contracts nearby. Since TAV has in Skopje they were not able to bid.
DeleteBut there were other Turkish companies bidding and there is one still left in the running.
DeleteWho are these IC Altyapi? I have never heard of them.
DeleteHolding company, mainly in construction. They have built a lot of projects in Turkey as well as Antalya Airport's new terminal
DeleteThey are bidding as part of a consortium with the Koreans. They would get the contract to build a new terminal in BEG while the management would be up to the Koreans. That is, of course, if they win.
DeleteState will have to find a solution for YM before it makes an airport transaction. YM owes millions to the airport and has no way to repay them. State owned airports don't care that much because they are all part of the same family but trust me a foreign operator will.
ReplyDeleteExcellent! We should get even more LCCs
ReplyDeleteYeah because they brought a lot of those to Zagreb...
DeleteI doubt the government in Montenegro will be willing to subdisise foreign airlines like Macedonia has.
DeleteWhat foreign airlines? The only airline they have subsidised is Wizz Air. The tenders for other airlines to apply was just a sham to show they are transparent. Deals were already made with Wizz prior to that. Wizz will spread its moral superiority everywhere but it does business in the Balkans the Balkan way. Acting as a monopolist with backroom government deals.
DeleteGood move. Hope they do the same with the airline.
ReplyDeleteNow that Etihad is out of its equity investment strategy, no one wants to buy and bankrupt airline.
Deletelol
DeleteInstead of Europe to maintain and manage ex-yu airports it's Turkey!! What a worse news. It sounds like Balkan to be part of Turkey! Hope not.
ReplyDeleteWake up EUROPE
DeleteWill there be anything left in ex-Yu that hasn't been sold :(
ReplyDeleteSo Turkey will control airport infrastructure, an asset of national interest, in 3 countries in ex-Yu.
ReplyDelete4 if you include Kosovo
DeleteWell in Croatia its only one airport and there are 8 others, none of which are under concession or privatised
DeleteIsn't Brac Airport owned by some hotel resort company?
DeleteAh yes, true. I forgot about that.
DeleteCroatia will eventually follow. DBV and SPU might be financing their expansions through EU grants and loans but the EU has already said it will no longer finance major infrastructure projects in member states. What will they do in 10 years when they can no longer support their growth? They will go an find a foreign partner.
DeleteSo, Turkish influence on strategic infrastructure on the Balkans actually ends only at the Slovenian border.
DeleteThey only hold 15% shares of Zagreb airport, they don't run it.
DeleteBravo Crna Gora!
ReplyDeleteThey might bring down fees. Podgorica and Tivat are quite expensive for LCCs.
ReplyDeleteI would not say so - look at ZAG, it was expensive anyway and they increased charges even more.
DeleteThis is what Ryanair said about the market last year. "The expense of flying one passenger from Europe to Montenegro is much higher than, say, to Cyprus".
DeleteTalk about the Balkan way of doing business. You offer an inferior product (Montenegro) and charge much higher than well established tourist nations.
DeleteThe good thing about LCCs currently flying to Podgorica is that they operate year-round and not just seasonal like in Croatia which is a win for customers.
DeleteTGD ima manje cijene za LCC nego TIV,npr.I te cijene nikad nisu zvanicno objavljene!Recimo da FR ima cijenu od 300eur za ground handling,landing,pax tax!Jedino manju cijenu ima MGX-NE PLACE NISTA!
DeleteImagine if we finally get our first intra-ex-Yu Wizz flights thanks to this. Podgorica-Skopje and Podgorica-Zagreb!
ReplyDeleteNope Wizz je resio da pare trosi u napadu na Aegean, otvara nove linije iz Atine.
Deletelol, you mean Ryanair.
DeleteDespite being small there is a market in Mont. Had they opened the market earlier, Podgorica could have be reaching well over one million passengers by now. Instead they were protecting MGX which was falsifying its business results at the time. Hopefully with this concession things will change.
ReplyDeleteHopefully, YM stays afloat :)
ReplyDeleteIt will until the EU sanctions the government for illegal state aid
DeleteMontenegro is not part of the EU.
DeleteAs a candidate country it has to follow through with EU regulations
DeleteIf only the Montenegro government had the sense of the Macedonian government and instead of funding a massively loss making national airline was instead offering subsidies to low cost airlines the country's tourism will have been way, way ahead from where it is now.
DeleteRyanair will probably expand from Podgorica again soon.
DeleteNobody forbids them.
DeleteAll those saying how people are against concession or privatization... News flash people don't give a s*it. If they did, the same family would not have ruled Montenegro for this long.
ReplyDeleteThe two airport system is working quite well in Montenegro because you have Tivat for seasonal traffic and Podgorica for year-round more diaspora oriented traffic.
ReplyDelete