Air Montenegro’s CEO, Vuk Stojanović, has described Wizz Air’s decision to open a year-round base in Podgorica, which will see the budget airline maintain up to 23 routes next summer, as a major development that brings both challenges and opportunities for the flag carrier. “On the one hand, the increase in capacity and competition, including Wizz Air’s routes to Ljubljana, Rome, Paris and Zurich (given Basel’s proximity), will give passengers more choice, improve Montenegro’s connectivity and potentially put downward pressure on fares. On the other hand, it means Air Montenegro must further upgrade its product, which includes improved service, clear differentiation and added value for travellers who prefer to fly with a different kind of airline. Air Montenegro is undoubtedly a company with a different business philosophy and passenger approach compared to low cost carriers”, Mr Stojanović said.
He noted that Air Montenegro “operates on a stable footing and has shown that its annual cabin load factor can reach around 80%, which, we are convinced, is one of the reasons Wizz Air decided to establish a base in Podgorica”. The CEO added that Air Montenegro only learned about Wizz Air’s new routes once they were officially announced and that these details will form the basis of the flag carrier’s new strategy which Is still being developed. “What we believe is that, in the long run, Air Montenegro will not face serious difficulties. On the contrary, it will show that it has the expertise and sensitivity needed to adapt to the new environment and deliver a level of service that keeps passengers’ trust”, he emphasised. Mr Stojanović added that Air Montenegro “has proven to be very resilient on routes where it faces competition, achieving strong results on flights to Belgrade (competing against Air Serbia), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines, Pegasus), and Paris (Transavia)”.
