Montenegro Airlines will retain the same number of flights this winter season, which begins on October 28, as it did last year, with some minor modifications. The carrier will operate scheduled services from Podgorica to Belgrade, Frankfurt, Ljubljana, Paris, Rome, Vienna and Zurich, as well as from Tivat to Belgrade and Moscow. It will increase frequencies between Podgorica and Ljubljana for a total of four weekly flights, which compete against Adria Airways' daily service on the route. On the other hand, the airline will reduce frequencies between Tivat and Moscow by one weekly flight for a total of two weekly rotations. Russia's S7 Airlines codeshares on the Montenegrin carrier's service between the two cities.
This winter season, Montenegro Airlines will maintain operations with four aircraft - three Embraer E195s and one Fokker 100 jet. The second F100 will undergo scheduled maintenance and will only be used as back-up when required. This winter is expected to mark the last for the airline's two F100s which are approaching retirement. Montenegro Airlines' CEO, Živko Banjević, previously said, "Plans concerning the fleet past 2018 are complex because we must replace the remaining Fokker aircraft. The recently adopted five-year plan outlines two scenarios. One is for the remaining two F100s to be replaced with two E195s in the coming period, in addition to short-term aircraft leases over the summer. In that case, Montenegro Airlines' fleet would be made up of five E195s and one leased aircraft for summer operations. The second scenario calls for the replacement of the Fokkers with two Airbus A320 family aircraft or Boeing 737 family jets. Therefore, the fleet would comprise of three E195s and two A320 or B737 family planes".
The 2018/19 winter season runs until March 31, 2019. Please note that the changes listed below are preliminary and based on current availability in the GDS (Global Distribution System). Both frequencies and destinations are subject to change. Furthermore, the table below displays the peak weekly frequency on each route during the course of the winter season. Adria Airways, Air Serbia and Croatia Airlines have all made adjustment to their winter networks as well and these modifications can be viewed by clicking on the provided links.
Departing Podgorica
| Destination | Frequency W17/18 | Frequency W18/19 | Change | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgrade | 15 | 15 | - | - |
| Frankfurt | 2 | 2 | - | - |
| Ljubljana | 3 | 4 | ▲ 1 | - |
| Paris | 2 | 2 | - | - |
| Rome | 3 | 3 | - | - |
| Vienna | 3 | 3 | - | - |
| Zurich | 3 | 3 | - | - |
Departing Tivat
| Destination | Frequency W17/18 | Frequency W18/19 | Change | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgrade | 10 | 10 | - | - |
| Moscow | 3 | 2 | ▼ 1 | - |
Interesting that JU will have more frequencies than YM on the BEG-TGD sector, 15 vs 18.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, where is all this demand for TGD-LJU coming from? For a few months now numbers have been booming.
Hasn't JU traditionally had more flights than YM to/from Belgrade-Montenegro?
DeleteI think for years now YM has carried more passengers between the two countries. Maybe this is changing now. I mean, YM must remain relevant on the MNE-BEG market as without it they would go bankrupt.
DeleteNemjee do you have datas for Podgorica to Beograd and Ljubljana?
DeleteSure thing.
DeleteTGD-BEG
2016: 282.874
2017: 293.913
Q1 2017: 63.703
Q1 2018: 59.652
TGD-LJU
2016: 37.070
2017: 49.824
Q1 2017: 7.373
Q1 2018: 10.583
Q2 2017: 10.975
Q2 2018: 16.628
Do Slovenians go for holidays to Montenegro?
DeleteIt is interesting how TGD-LJU ops have grown. From 3 per week by Montenegro just a year and a half ago to over 10 weekly flights.
ReplyDeleteGood that they are fighting back against JP. I thought they didn't stand a chance and that they would have to suspend the route eventually but they are actually increasing frequencies.
DeleteBoth JU and JP booming in Montenegro, only incompetent OU ceased TGD flights
DeleteDid OU fly to Podgorica seasonally or year round?
DeleteOk network for winter operations out of Montenegro in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteTheir network hasn't been changed for years. Same old, same old.
ReplyDeleteWhat more can they do? They have covered Germany, Austria, France and Switzerland for gasterbaiters during winter + Serbia. There is not that much demand for Montenegro in winter from other types of passengers.
DeleteA few years ago Montenegro Airlines used to fly to Pristina and Skopje. I'm pretty certain TGD-PRN did quite well.
DeleteThey didn't suspend them by choice. They had debt towards PRN and SKP. PRN held up their plane for an entire day because of outstanding debt. After that they suspended flights to PRN and SKP straight away.
DeleteAh ok. thanks
DeleteThat happened some time ago. Two years ago they finally repaid debt to Pristina and Skopje airport so they can restart these flights if they want to.
DeleteAt one point Podgorica had flights to all ex-Yu capital cities. Now only Belgrade and Ljubljana.
DeleteI am still sad OU suspended TGD, they were a really nice addition. Maybe now when they do so well in SKP they might consider returning?!
DeleteWould be nice. But they ended PRN as well so they don't seem to focus on the region much. The only ex-Yu city OU flies to outside of Croatia is Skoplje.
DeleteSince when Sarajevo and Mostar are in Croatia?
DeleteOU does well in SKP so why they ignore TGD? They could do well like JU and JP.
DeleteSo the Fokkers will finally be retired at the end of winter?
ReplyDeleteWell they originally said Fokkers would leave at end of winter of last year. So I wouldn't take their word. It's like Air Serbia retiring its B737s.
DeleteWe will see what happens by the summer. There is a high chance MGX will be sold.
DeleteThe Fokkers will outlive the company :D
DeleteSo 44 weekly flights divided by 4 planes gives 11 weekly flights per plane. It seems a bit too low for me even if you include winter gambling charters. Why don't they lease one Embraer during the winter? It would surely help their finances.
ReplyDeleteWith 4 aircraft they could have explored some other destinations during the winter. There are surely some unserved profitable routes.
DeleteThey need only 2 planes for winter operations.
DeleteExactly my thought and what I wanted to write. Only 2 planes needed plus 1 backup so they can try to lease out two.
Deletetimetable is alright.
ReplyDeleteThanks for providing us with these for all airlines. Much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteYes, good to compare and contrast. This winter, it doesn't seem many are making major changes.
DeleteRetiring the F100s is smart move in my opinion. They are becoming an increasingly uneconomical aircraft.
ReplyDeleteNice crew :)
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same, super nice crew :)
DeleteMontenegro airlines - always nice looking stewardesses. Really old school approach to running airline. But most of frequent flyers to Montenegro I spoke to actually agree that their male cabin crew is on average much better in terms of service delivery.
DeleteI hope they choose the second option for their fleet plans. It would be nice to see a larger plane with the beautiful Montenegro Airlines livery like this year :)
ReplyDeleteThe second option is definitely more risky because they will have a lot of capacity in winter. Now if they can develop a good strategy to employ those planes somewhere over winter then it could work out well.
DeleteThey could try and do what Adria does and enter ACMI market in winter.
DeleteThat's not easy to do winter when many airlines have access capacity. Ask Air Serbia which has not managed to lease out an A319.
DeleteExactly. Easier said then done.
DeleteStick to one fleet type, either all Embraer or replace the entire fleet. 2 model fleets don't work in a small airline - there's increased maintenance, training and resourcing costs.
DeleteBut if it's all Embraer they will still need to lease extra capacity in summer.
DeleteThey should go to all E195 fleet like AirDolomiti. As there operations grow they could just add more to the fleet.
DeleteThe only true legacy flag carrier left in ex-Yu.
ReplyDeleteHahahahahahaha
DeleteThey have a proper service! Last left with one. Over the years I have become very fond of that little money burning excersise :)
DeleteTheir network has been unchanged for years.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened with the other Fokkers? Have they been sold or are they just sitting in Podgorica?
ReplyDeleteused for spare parts.
DeleteThey should organise some "fly the last Fokkers in Europe" campaign to atrack passangees. If these are last left :)
DeleteIt is not last Fokker in Europe:
DeleteAvanti Air (Njemačka) - 2
Carpatair (Rumunjska) - 3
Helvetic (Švicarska) - 5
Trade Air (Hrvatska) - 2
Tus (Cipar) - 2
Ukupno: 14 bez Montenegra
Tnx Purger, so there are few still around.
DeleteThey used to fly from Podgorica to Moscow for a few years ago. Strange they don't anymore. Does Aeroflot fly to TGD?
ReplyDeleteWith icy relations between Russia and Montenegro those flights to Moscow will keep going down each season.
DeleteNo Aeroflot does not fly to Podgorica. Only Rossiya Airlines flies from Moscow to Podgorica and only during the summer.
DeleteRussians that come to Montenegro land at Tivat so they can be on the coast. What are they going to do in Podgorica?
DeleteNot really. Many have properties in the South part of the coast. Podgorica Is more convenient plus it is practically a seaside airport :)))
DeleteTIV-DME/SVO/VKO it's more than enough: it's like a shuttle service-every 15-20 minutes(summer) you have a 'bus' to Moscow or Tivat :-) For winter
ReplyDelete, you have 4-5 daily ops to Moscow-more that for BEG.10 carriers competes on that route but Pobeda,S7,RedWings & Aeroflot is always full!
The ladies in the photo have Asian looking eyes. Is it the make up?
ReplyDeleteI think it's wind :-)
Delete