Montenegro suspends Priština and Skopje

Unpaid debt forces cancellations

Montenegro Airlines unexpectedly operated its final service to Priština and Skopje on Wednesday, after it was revealed the airline owes thousands of Euros to both. Montenegro Airlines’ aircraft was stranded in Priština for seven hours after it failed to receive necessary clearances from local authorities. Radio station Antena M has reported that Montenegro Airlines owes 500.000 Euros to Priština Airport and was allowed to depart only after it deposited 50.000 Euros into the airport’s account.

Montenegro Airlines has denied the claims, saying that the aircraft was delayed due to the late arrival of incoming connecting passengers. However, no airline was late in arriving that morning into Priština. Furthermore, the national airline of Montenegro explains that it has suspended flights to Priština and Skopje due to poor loads. Late last year the airline’s CEO, Zoran Djurišić, said that the airline was doing particularly well thanks to flights from Priština and Niš.

This winter, Montenegro Airlines operated daily flights from Podgorica to both Priština and Skopje. There are currently no plans for the flights to resume in the summer.