Passenger boost

What crisis?

From January 1 until last Friday, Montenegro’s national carrier has transported 385.000 passengers which is 12% more than the same period last year. The financial crisis which has gripped the entire aviation industry of the former Yugoslavia seems to have bypassed only Montenegro Airlines. The airline is reporting a month on month passenger increase of 9 to 12%. The airline’s commercial director, Čedomir Đurišić, said that he expects the airline to carry some 560.000 passengers by the end of the year, compared to 495.000 in 2008. Montenegro Airlines would therefore hold its number 4 spot at the end of the year, passenger wise, amongst the national carriers of the former Yugoslavia, behind Croatia Airlines, Jat Airways and Adria Airways. Interestingly 104.000 passengers (some 35%) so far have been those travelling from Belgrade to Montenegro’s 2 airports, Tivat and Podgorica, illustrating the importance of the Serbian market for Montenegro Airlines. Therefore, Montenegro Airlines has lunched a new camping offering cheap tickets for passengers will to travel from Belgrade to European cities via Podgorica. A similar project has been launched for passengers travelling from Priština.

Despite some good results there are serious questions regarding the unscrupulous nature of the airline’s management. The airline’s CEO is being investigated for making damaging aircraft leases, while the airline’s first man in charge of the Serbian market is being investigated for grand fraud by Montenegrin authorities.