Ryanair to skip Montenegro

No Ryanair flights to Podgorica this winter

Ryanair won’t be commencing flights to Montenegro this winter, despite earlier announcement from the government that the no frills airline would do so. It is believed the Government of Montenegro and Ryanair couldn’t find common ground on the strict terms laid out to the low cost airline. Ryanair was expected to commence flights to Podgorica at the start of the 2011/12 winter season and was obligated to carry 100.000 passengers out of Podgorica in one year and carry 50.000 passengers during the low season, from October until May. Furthermore, the airline was required to fly to and from Podgorica throughout the year, rather than during the high season only, so as not to receive special treatment over the national carrier Montenegro Airlines.

The two sides negotiated for the airline to operate flights to Podgorica out of Glasgow Prestwick Airport and London Stansted. The Montenegrin government is now hoping to sell Montenegro Airlines by the end of the year and then grant licenses to low cost airlines to operate flights to both Podgorica and Tivat which would in turn boost tourism numbers.

Meanwhile, Zadar Airport in Croatia, which has flourished since Ryanair introduced flights to the city, is expected to get a new direct service from Barcelona next year as Ryanair negotiates with airport officials. The service would accompany the airline’s existing seasonal summer flights from Charleroi, Dublin, Hahn, London, Moss, Stockholm and Weeze. The low cost airline is also expected to commence flights to the Slovenian capital next summer from Dusseldorf and Dublin.