Montenegro Airlines will add an Embraer E195 jet to its fleet at the start of the 2020 summer season. The carrier has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to dry-lease an E195 or E195-E2 aircraft. The jet may be either new or utilised but must not have been manufactured prior to 2007. Based on the RFP documentation, the aircraft will have the capacity to seat at least 116 passengers and will be used for 2.030 flight hours per year or an average of 1.4 flight hours per cycle. Montenegro Airlines will choose the best bidder based on the lowest lease rate, maintenance reserves and deposit, as well as engine utilisation, which must have over 10.000 flight cycles left on their lifespan.
Interested parties have until next Friday to submit their offers. It is unlikely the airline will receive bids to lease the new E195-E2 aircraft with only one airframe built so far. It is operated by Brazil’s Azul Airlines. However, the carrier has expressed interest in operating the type within three years. On the other hand, the company currently utilises three E195LRs. Embraer has reported that Montenegro Airlines has one of the best operational performances in the world among carriers utilising its aircraft types. The three E195LRs conducted 99.85% of all flights they were scheduled to perform over the past twelve months. This is above the manufacturer’s target of 99.3%, as well as the global and European average of 99.4% and 99.5% respectively.
In addition to Embraers, Montenegro Airlines utilises a single Fokker F100 aircraft in its fleet. A further four F100s are grounded and will not be returned to service. Over the 2020 summer season, the carrier will continue to use its sole operational F100, prior to its retirement at the end of October. The airline is in talks over the sale of its entire Fokker fleet. The Montenegrin carrier has leased aircraft over the past two years during the summer season including a Boeing 737-300, B737-500 and an F100 jet. The airline is currently in the process of finalising a commercial strategy which will define the company’s development over the next three to five years in terms of its destination network.
Does this mean they will get an E195 plus lease another jet?
ReplyDeleteProbably since there were 2 F100s in service this summer while next year there will be only one.
DeleteWow so Montenegro Airlines becomes an all-Embraer operator from 2021 right? Nice :)
ReplyDeleteThat's the plan
DeleteBut if it's all Embraer they will still need to lease extra capacity in summer.
DeleteBecause a few years ago they said they were deciding between Embraers and Boeing for fleet expansion. They said then that if they chose Embraer they would still have to wet lease capacity in summer.
DeleteI see. But doesn't the E195 have greater capacity than the F100?
DeleteHopefully next year they can lease a 737-800 or maybe A319.
DeleteOU should do the same.
ReplyDeleteAgain, with what Monopoly money exactly?
Delete@frishki : With the money the Govt. will take partly from your pockets.
DeleteFirst, they won't since the money won't be used for leasing more aircrafts and second, not anymore from my pockets. My pocket will be sitting abroad.
DeleteExactly, they are getting money from the government, they could use it to lease some planes. I mean until now they got over €100 million.
DeleteYes but that's for day to day financing.
DeleteHope to see some new routes.
ReplyDeleteWhat destinations could work for MGX?
DeleteSpace for expansion is becoming more limited as LCCs start to grow in Montenegro.
DeleteMaybe Munich and start Codeshare with Lufthansa?
DeleteThat could be an option. LH now flies MUC-TIV seasonally.
DeleteYeah but the LH flight is only for tourists, doesn't connect to anything.
DeleteTrue and it's just once per week :/
DeleteYes, let Lufthansa get a new feeder airline ...
DeleteIt worked so well with Adria .
Hope it's a newer bird.
ReplyDeleteIf they ate looking for the cheapest one it will probably be manufactured in 2007.
DeleteThat's not too bad?
DeleteWell it would be 13 years old so...
DeleteIf the lease rate is good then why not?
DeleteAlways nice to see an airline from the region modernising its fleet.
ReplyDeleteMontenegro keeps winning!
ReplyDeleteThe only, true legacy flag carrier in the area.
DeleteBravo Montenegro!
DeleteHow on earth will they finance this?
ReplyDeleteGovernment
DeleteCorrection, taxpayers.
DeleteA few years ago they said they were deciding between Embraers and Boeing for fleet expansion. Guess they have chosen Embraer.
ReplyDeleteThey made the smart choice.
DeleteWould love to see them fly the E2!
ReplyDeleteNo way they will get it offered on this tender. Maybe they can do a financial lease in 2022.
DeleteIf they are around by then...
DeleteDon't you worry they will be :)
DeleteSo this would be a long term lease?
ReplyDeleteYes
DeleteYes. They urgently need to replace Fokkers.
DeleteAccording to some media reports Qantas is interested in the Fokkers. I assume for spare parts for their regional fleet.
ReplyDeleteHope they get a good price.
DeleteThe utilization of those MGX embraers is very low.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Montenegro Airlines.
ReplyDeleteWill MGX finally be in profit this year?
ReplyDeleteAt the start of the year the management of the company said they expect to have a profit in 2019. But remember they are heavily subsidized.
DeleteIt makes sense for them to become an all Embraer operator in my opinion. It will reduce costs.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteNice news coming from Montenegro Airlines lately.
ReplyDeleteThis is all good but they still have to work on seasonality issue with the government and the tourist board.
ReplyDeleteI wonder who has the bigger seasonality issue. Montenegro airlines or Croatia airlines?
DeleteHaving the TGD-BEG and TIV-BEG route helps a lot with seasonality, especially TGD-BEG-TGD which performs well in summer and winter.
DeleteOU has several daily flights between Zagreb and Dubrovnik in winter. It's the same thing.
DeleteGreat plan
ReplyDelete*plane, sorry ;) but not a bad plan either
Delete