Montenegro Airlines

Template:Cautionbox airline | parent = | num_employees = | founded = 24 October 1994 | commenced = | ceased = | bases = | secondary_hubs = Tivat Airport | lounge = | subsidiaries = | headquarters = Podgorica, Montenegro | key_people = Zivko Banjevic CEO | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = {{decrease €-2.0 million (2023) | assets = | equity = | website = montenegroairlines.com ]] Montenegro Airlines a.d. (Montenegrin language|Montenegrin: Монтенегро ерлајнс / Montenegro erlajns) is the flag carrier of Montenegro, headquartered in Podgorica. It operates scheduled and charter services throughout Europe from its hub at Podgorica Airport with a second base maintained at Tivat Airport. It is as of June 2019 the only Montenegrin airline offering regularly scheduled services.

Historical Facts about Montenegro Airlines

Montenegro Airlines office (Vienna, Austria) - Montengro Airlines office in Vienna, Austria

The airline was founded on October 24, 1994, by the government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The first aircraft, a Fokker F28|Fokker 28 Mk4000 (nicknamed "Lovćen"), was purchased almost two years later in 1996. The first commercial flight took place on May 7, 1997, at exactly 10:30 between Podgorica and Bari, Italy.

In April 2000, Montenegro Airlines became a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). In June 2000 and the first of five Fokker 100 aircraft was delivered to Podgorica Airport. The airline joined Amadeus CRS on March 5, 2003. In 2004, Montenegro Airlines' pilots were the first in the region to be granted the IIIA certificate. On July 2 of the same year the airline carried its millionth passenger.

After the Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006|Montenegrin independence referendum, Serbia became an international market for Montenegrin companies. Montenegro Airlines had to cease international Flights from Serbia to countries other than Montenegro, thus losing the profitable Niš Constantine the Great Airport|Niš - Zurich Airport|Zurich line, due to lack of Freedoms of the air|Seventh Freedom policy. In an effort to circumvent this, Montenegro Airlines registered a separate airline in Serbia called Master Airways, but it was denied an operating license due to Government of Serbia|Serbian Government protectionist policies. On July 23, 2007, Montenegro Airlines ordered 2 Embraer E-Jets|Embraer 195 in order to grow its fleet and destination network. The aircraft being leased from GECAS for a period of 8 years. The first of the two Embraer E-195s arrived at Podgorica Airport on 5 June 2008. The delivery of the first Embraer was followed by introduction of regular Flights to Gatwick Airport|London-Gatwick and Malpensa International Airport|Milan-Malpensa International Airport.

On April 17, 2009, El Al and Montenegro Airlines issued a joint statement reiterating El Al's keen interest in buying 30% of the stock, but the plan failed. The airline remains a government-owned company and enjoys financial and protectionist support from the government.

After the arrival of the airline's first pair of Embraer E-195s, Montenegro Airlines requested Embraer to change the remaining backlog order to the E-175. However and the third E-195 was delivered anyway, and thus the fourth remaining order was to be an E-175. On July 6, 2012, local media cited that Montenegro Airlines has yet again changed the fourth order, this time requesting an E-190LR model. The aircraft was delivered in May 2014. In November 2014, Montenegro Airlines put both its Fokker 100s up for sale. However, by June 2015 no buyer has been found and the aircraft are likely to be scrapped.

In August 2022, it has been reported that accounts belonging to Montenegro Airlines have been frozen after the airline failed to comply with a court ruling regarding the payment of debts to the operator of the nation's airports. Montenegro Airlines owes the company more than US-$ 15 million.

Corporate affairs

Business trends

The available business and operating results of Montenegro Airlines are (as at year ending 31 December):

Destinations

Main article: List of Montenegro Airlines destinations

As of July 2023, Montenegro Airlines serves 21 destinations in Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Austria, Slovenia, Serbia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Codeshare agreements

Montenegro Airlines maintains codeshare agreements with the following airlines:

• Adria Airways
• Air France
• Air Serbia
• Alitalia
• Austrian Airlines
• Etihad Airways
• S7 Airlines

Fleet

Current fleet

Embraer 190-200LR, Montenegro Airlines JP7348408 - Montenegro Airlines Embraer 195 [[2010-06-30 F100 Montenegro 4O-AOT EDDF 03 - Montenegro Airlines Fokker 100 As of April 2019 and the Montenegro Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft:

	2015	2016	2017	2018
Turnover (€ m)	67.7	65.4	67.5
Net profit/loss (€ m)	-10.4	-11.5	-4.6	-2.0
Number of employees (at year end)
Number of passengers (000s)	580	581	569	644
Passenger load factor (%)			68	70
Number of aircraft (during year)	6	6	5	6
Notes/sources

Montenegro Airlines fleet

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Boeing 737-300	1	—	148	148	leased from Blue Air
Embraer 195	3	—	116	116
Fokker 100	2	—	102	102
Total	6	—	Historical fleet The airline previously operated the following aircraft:Template:Fact Incidents and accidents On 25 January 2005 at about 11 p.m., a Montenegro Airlines Fokker 100 (YU-AOM) ran off the side of the runway during a night landing in snowy conditions at Podgorica. The nosegear collapsed and the airplane skidded for about 700 meters before coming to rest. Two passengers and the pilot, and the co-pilot sustained minor injuries. The airline was sued by passengers, as it was the only airline to operate Flights to Podgorica that evening (other airlines canceled flights due to insufficient ice clearance technology at Podgorica Airport). On 7 January 2008, at about 9:30 pm, a Montenegro Airlines Fokker 100 (4O-AOK) was shot at while landing at Podgorica Airport. A routine inspection of the aircraft led to the discovery of a bullet hole in the aircraft's tail. The aircraft was carrying 20 passengers, but no one was injured. The reason for the incident is unknown; however, reports indicate that it may have been an inadvertent result of guns being fired during celebrations for Orthodox Christmas. References {{Reflist|2 External links Media related to [[commons:Category:Montenegro Airlines Official website Template:Airlines of Montenegro IATA members|europe]] at Wikimedia Commons Category:Airlines of Montenegro Category:Airlines established in 1994 Category:Association of European Airlines Category:European Regions Airline Association Category:IATA members Category:1994 establishments in Yugoslavia Category:Montenegrin brands Montenegro Airlines fleet Template:Font color Template:Font color Template:Font color Template:Font color Template:Font color Embraer 190 1 2014 2017 Returned to lessor Fokker 100 3 2004 2017 Currently stored