Air Montenegro’s new CEO, Mark Anžur, who formerly managed carriers such as Adria Airways and Stobart Air, has said the airline will soon begin drafting its ten-year development strategy and is planning to grow its route network and fleet, as well as become an IATA member. Speaking to the “Vijesti” daily, Mr Anžur said, “Following detailed analysis of the market, additional information on the current organisational and technical structure, the workforce and other resources, we will start work on the company’s long-term development strategy for the coming ten-year period. The strategy will include, among others, so-called ‘self-standing’ operations, with the aim of taking up an important position on the market, achieving good financial indicators, profitability, and commercial viability”. In 2022, Air Montenegro was Montenegro’s second largest airline, handling 359.383 passengers to Air Serbia’s 388.329 travellers.
Commenting on the development of the airline’s network, Mr Anžue said, “We will follow national interests in connecting Montenegro with as many destinations as possible, which are of importance to the state, tourist industry and the entire economy, strategic partners, the citizens of Montenegro and of course our clients”. He added, “Due to insufficient demand over the winter season, for now it is not viable to launch new routes during this time of year. However, in respect to the Montenegrin government’s strategic decision to turn the country into a year-round tourist destination, we will work on expanding our network where economically viable”.
Air Montenegro has been hindered by its lack of membership in IATA because of ongoing legal processes with the country’s former and defunct national carrier Montenegro Airlines. Consequently, Air Montenegro has no codeshare partnerships and is unable to have any transfer passengers as it cannot sell connecting flights. “We have launched the process for obtaining a new IATA designator code which is a precondition to establishing codeshare and other agreement on an international level”, the CEO said. The Montenegrin flag carrier currently operates two of its own Embraer E195 aircraft and wet-leases two other jets, an Airbus A320 and an E190. The Montenegrin government has purchased a third E195 for the airline, formerly operated by Montenegro Airlines, however, it requires significant funds in order to be able to safely return into service, after being grounded for several years. “If funds are secured to invest into the aircraft, we at Air Montenegro will return the jet into operation based on the principles of economic sustainability and profitability in accordance with our commercial plans in the coming period”, Mr Anžur concluded. Air Montenegro expects to handle over half a million passengers this year.
Good luck Mr Anzur.
ReplyDeleteHe will need it.
DeleteMr Anzur sure has an impressive CV Adria which was a disaster and sfo art who handed all Aer Lingus domestic and UK connection s failed to be run properly-give him max 2 years would not waste time on even a five plan the airline will be gone
DeleteWow so Air Serbia with flights from Belgrade (and seasonal Nis and Kraljevo) had more passengers from Montenegro than Air Montenegro which has all its flights either departing or terminating from the country. Crazy.
ReplyDeleteWhat's sad is that Montenegro Airlines used to have more passengers on the Montenegro-Belgrade flights than Air Serbia. With these numbers it is now obvious that Air Serbia has double the passengers than Air Montenegro on this route.
DeleteYes but don't forget that Montenegro Airlines codeshared with Air Serbia and many passengers flying Montenegro Airlines connected onto Air Serbia flights. Now that is no longer possible.
DeleteYM had more passengers because JU allowed them by not growing as much as they could. Also JU took over INI-TIV route from YM so now they have consolidated their position and they don't seem like letting go.
DeleteHonestly it's a saviour flying with Air Montenegro this summer between Belgrade and Podgorica. Air Serbia is delayed on average by at least an hour every single day to/fron TGD.
DeleteI don't think many share your opinion, Air Montenegro has failed to secure good loads and frequencies to BEG. People just don't trust them and don't want to risk flying on an unknown carrier. One can also question how safe their planes are.
DeleteHonestly I wouldn't feel comfy flying with them. At least with JU you know you are in good hands and in a safe airline that has been setting standards since 1927.
Unfortunately, this summer they have been setting standards in delays and lost luggage. I flew JU to Podgorica a few weeks ago. Flight delayed 2 hours, downgraded because they changed plane to wet-lease just few hours before (not compensated for difference in price to this day)
DeleteYou were downgraded from business to economy? JU in their terms and conditions specify that last minute equipment changes are possible.
DeleteI took a look at TGD flights yesterday and today:
Saturday
JU 170 2 minutes late
JU 172 81 minutes late
JU 174 16 minutes late
Sunday
JU 170 16 minutes late
So only the noon flight yesterday had a serious delay and that was probably due to the airport operator. All other flights were more or less ok.
In Europe all carrier face lot of delays and i fly ever week within Europe mostly out of Vienna using AF, BA, LH, LX, OS etc
DeleteYes I was downgraded because they decided to operate a wet leased plane and on wet leases they don't operate business class. In their terms and conditions it also says you will be paid the fare difference due to the downgrade. So far nothing and it has been weeks. My return was on Air Montenegro because of more suitable timing. Flight on time, nice crew. Full flight.
DeleteWell, JU always refunds their customers and they even did it when covid hit when many European carriers tried avoiding it.
DeleteDid you fly in business on Air Montenegro?
Of course the flight was on time when they have nowhere to fly so their planes are not delayed across Europe. Crew is friendly because they barely fly for huge government salaries and the flight was full because there were no empty seats on JU so people had to fly with them.
I'm laughing out loud at the person defending every JU action and criticising everyone else for everything.
DeleteI am also laughing out loud at people trying to use every opportunity to bring JU down. I mean here we are reading comments on how Air Montenegro is a better and more reliable carrier than JU, the same airline that can't afford to fix a parked E95, that can't get an IATA code and which can barely operate 2 daily flights from TGD to BEG.
DeleteYeah, I am also laughing my ass off.
I simply compared the two on my recent flight on the same route. JU provided poor and delayed service. Wasn't the case on Air Montenegro, at least on my last flights. No need to get angry about it.
DeleteAnd you were painting a general picture of JU while in another comment you can see that other flights the past two days were on time.
DeleteEven as I type this the JU 10.10 to TIV took off on time and will be arriving there some 15 minutes ahead of schedule. But hey, you had a bad experience so let's endless trash JU based on your one bad review.
I was talking about their flights a few weeks ago when I was flying. I had two different family members also flying the route to Podgorica around the same time and both were delayed. One by 2 hours (operated by Klasjet). One by an hour. I don't know if you are paid by them to defend them or just so passionate about them (admirable to be so in love with a corporate company) but I can express my own opinion. I said that in this case they provided poor service and that Air Montenegro on this occasion (in my case) was better in every respect. I wasn't generalising about them as a company as a whole, neither one in fact.
DeleteIt's ok, we get it. Air Serbia really bad, Air Montenegro super.
DeleteWe get it.
You obviously didn't get it but it's ok. Reread a few time, you might.
DeleteOh I got it, no need to read it because I know why there were such massive delays back then. It was the height of the crisis at BEG. Yesterday 30 new people started working at the airport and look at operations today, they are running smoothly, even for JU.
DeleteWhat all these pro-Air Serbia commentators fail to understand is that Air Serbia aims to play in a higher league. In that league you don't blame the airport, you don't blame the weather, you don't say: but others are also late etc.
DeleteYou apologies, pay the compensation and try to improve your product.
Some people here try to convince an unsatisfied customer that in fact he should be happy, because other flights are on time and during COVID they paid the compensation. Why should he care, if he was downgraded and no sight of compensation?
Not defending JU by any measure, but I had an involuntary downgrade twice in the last few years (once with LH and once with OS), and I waited four and seven months for the respective payouts. So not sure what "higher league" you're referring to.
Delete@11.25
Deletewhat higher league are you talking about?
no major comapany western company operates independently because they cant afford to. Amsterdam is literally limiting flight because it cannot cope.
do you not remember germany few weeks ago, literally shut down because the workers were unhappy with working conditions and pay.
Literally Qantas is blaming the airport in Perth saying its their fault they cant expand international travel to europe.
this is a very common issue where people are criticized for having problems but when it comes to western world, always excuses are made for them or even just straight pretend those problems dont exist.
fine if you claim air Serbia is aiming to be elite, then that aim is Singapore/ Thai/ Etihad/ Qatar/ Korean Air. Definitely not anything from the west.
this is why i would celebrate news of Air Serbia working with Uganda or anyone else over western europe. Yes they have problems but they are not hypocrites.
In ten years from now Air Montenegro won't exist and I doubt he'll stay there for more than 2 or 3 years.
ReplyDeleteThe market is small and judging by recent cancellations of flights in our region and the Adriatic airports' mediocre performance we see that the economic crisis has started to take its toll.
BEG is the only real market for them and they can't breakthrough JU's defensese. Air Serbia has put an end to their parasitic business practices so they are doomed to fail.
Montenegro is JU's playground and they are not going anywhere. Symbolically, YU-ASB's first flight was to TGD last night.
Not being able to have codeshares or connecting flights is a huge issue and something they should have dealt with 2 years ago when they started flying.
ReplyDeleteTheir main focus this summer is on charters.
ReplyDeleteIt brings the most risk free money.
DeleteWhy is Air Montenegro A320 with Montenegro Airlines tail?? Did they forget they changed the livery?
ReplyDeleteIt's a hybrid wet lease, both Montenegro Airlines are splitting the deal😀😀😀😀
Delete^ I really wouldn't be surprised 😂
DeleteThe two planes they are wet leasing (A320/E195) are complete garbage and having technical issues all the time.
ReplyDeleteWell it's not like they could afford something better, their resources are limited and stretched to the full.
DeleteBEG-TIV
ReplyDeleteYesterday
JU: 5 flights (4 A319, 1 A320)
MNE: 2 flights (E90, E95)
Today:
JU: 5 flights (3 A319, 2 A320)
MNE: (E90, E95)
Tomorrow:
JU: 5 flights (3 A320, 1 A319, 1 ATR)
MNE: 2 flights (E90, E95)
It's obvious very few people are flying on YM 2.0 and those who do are probably doing it because they couldn't get a seat on JU.
Without strong presence on TGD/TIV-BEG no airline from Montenegro can survive.
In what destinations they could expand??
ReplyDeleteLJU could go daily in summer. It's a shame they reduced BNX to just one weekly.
DeleteBNX is one of that routes that could (with the right aircraft) go daily from Tivat in summer .
DeleteSame as Nish or Kraljevo .
The Atr is perfect for that purpose .
And after some summers it could get upgraded to Embaerjets or even A319s .
Doubt their new Sarajevo flights will perform well. They have already delayed the launch by a month but we will see.
ReplyDeleteThis route has never worked in the past and they plan to fly just one weekly. I can imagine the results.
DeleteWish them the best of luck. We need ex-Yu flag carriers.
ReplyDeleteme too, i hope they succeed,
Deletebut in reality non of our airlines will be able to be big and successful until they start cooperating together
Nope. AirSerbia do NOT need parasitic baggage any more. Like "uzdaj se u se i u svoje kljuse".
DeleteI understand that MNE can't codeshare with JU as they are not IATA member, but why don't they organize connecting flights via TGD with their own metal?
ReplyDeleteYM used to offer FRA-TGD-BEG and I see no reason why MNE can't do the same?
BEG-FRA has up to 4 daily on A319/320/321. Why would anyone go via TGD and experience the mess at the airport over there right now? Have you seen videos from TGD and TIV?
DeleteI know flying frequencies between FRA and BEG very well.
DeleteThe point is that quite often YM was offering much more affordable prices for flights via TGD than both JU and LH especially for last minute purchase.
I was flying at least 3 times from FRA to BEG via TGD and every single time it was without any single problem.
The problems in TGD have started recently and won't neccessarily last long, especially after summer season. Mind you FRA-TGD-BEG could have been flown year round.
Montenegro keeps winning!
ReplyDeleteGirl bye
DeleteEverything Mark Anzur touches goes bankrupt!
ReplyDeleteThe real question is, how does he keep getting the positions? You would think by now no one would want to touch the man with that kind of record. And this should have been the case already at the time of the JP demise...
DeleteNot that I'm defending him but Adria didn't go bankruot while he was CEO. It was 4 years after he left Adria.
DeleteAir Montenegro cannot get someone better and Anzhur is a no-go for any serious airline .
DeleteSo both of them coming together is a match in heaven, or better said a match in hell ...
Can E95 land at KVO, given weight restrictions ?
ReplyDeleteI don't think it can
DeleteIt is good that Montenegro has its own airline. Look at what happened in LJU and SKP.
ReplyDeleteSKP has more traffic than TGD.
DeleteIt's much larger market, of course it has more
DeleteSkopje is a success story, you have to be blind not to see that !
DeleteThey need turboprops and try markets lile Bulgaria, Romania, Italy ...
ReplyDeleteATH too
DeleteAnd compete against Aegean? Really?
DeleteAegean flies 2w A320 to TGD if Air Montenegro ever lands in ATH its gonna be 1weekly so you can understand the results.
Delete"in respect to the Montenegrin government’s strategic decision to turn the country into a year-round tourist destination, we will work on expanding our network where economically viable”.
ReplyDeleteMontenegro doesn't have a year-round hot weather. To make an artificial year-round destination Montenegro would need dozens of billions. The don't have it.
They have mountains as well in case you forgot.
DeleteNot for skiing
DeleteSaying that Air Serbia is profiting from Air Montenegros incompetence is far from the truth.
ReplyDeleteAir Serbia is much to expensive for being an alternative.
Only if they would increase frequencies and lower their prices.
Ryanair and Wizzair are the true winners and make transfering in Belgrade obsolete.
Air Serbia has over 80 weekly frequencies to Montenegro and is the country's largest airline by passenger numbers. Well ahead of Ryanair and Wizz Air which are shrinking in Montenegro.
Delete"Ryanair and Wizzair are the true winners and make transfering in Belgrade obsolete"
DeleteWhat a dumb comment. Those airlines will bever be able to match number of destinations offered via Belgrade, esp long haul ones. Think before posting.
Just three daily flights to Podgorica while Turkish and Pegasus will soon offer the same with much better connections from Istanbul.
DeleteNiđe veze između W6/FR i TK/PC
Delete