Press Conference
14th March, 2008 in Podgorica – The air company “Montenegro Airlines” held press conference, presenting the new summer flight schedule, plans for the next tourism season and activities concerning new destinations and fleet expansion. Dr Zoran Djurisic, the President, addressed the present journalists.
The head of the company “Montenegro Airlines” stated that the summer flight schedule has been already placed in the reservation system, and that all flights by the end of this year are available for booking. The flight schedule was significantly affected by the activities concerning the fleet extension, i.e. the acquisition of the new aircraft type, type “Embraer 195”, which represents the new strategic concept and development of the company.
In the first two and a half months of this year there has been a significant increase of traffic compared to previous year, which was marked as a record year in terms of realized operations. This increase is 11%, which indicates that in this year the new record will be achieved, the brilliant number of 500 000 transported passengers. Having in mind the fact that the population of Montenegro is 650.000, this number certainly sounds impressive.
As announced earlier, the arrival of the “Embraer” aircraft is expected by the end of May, and its operations shall start immediately. The acquisition of “Embraer” aircraft represents the turning point in company’s development and a significant contribution to the development of (tourism industry of) Montenegro. It is the most modern passenger aircraft manufactured in the world, with the value of more than 30 mil $.
Company’s President, commenting the new destination London, stated that instead previously announced airport “Stansted”, which is the typical airport for charter flights, the Company managed to obtain slots at “Gatwick” airport. Airport “Gatwick” is much more favorable, with more frequent operations, which offers much better connections. The obtained slots at “Gatwick” and following operations will start beginning of June.
With respect to the traditional destinations on which Montenegro Airlines operates scheduled flights, the Company’s President stated that during the summer season daily operations to/from Frankfurt and Zurich will be introduced. The flights to Vienna, Rome and Paris shall be increased, as well as flights to Belgrade, and as in previous year, flights to Nis will be introduced.
An important novelty relates to flights to Russia. It is planned to perform 12-14 rotations per week, which means that the planes of the national carrier shall connect Montenegro with this important tourism market twice a day. This destination certainly represents one of the most important commercial projections in which the aircraft “Embraer 195” will be utilized to a maximum degree.
Due to the series of novelties, the season ahead of Montenegro Airlines represents a period full of challenges which the Company enters completely prepared in technical-technological, commercial and safety sense.
