Unions: Airports should remain state-owned, employees have proven they can effectively manage the system

Representative airport unions in Podgorica and Tivat have appealed for the Montenegrin Airports to remain state-owned, assessing that this is the only possible and reasonable decision.

The president of the Trade Union of Airports of Montenegro, Podgorica Airport, Slobodan Martinović, announced that airport employees have proven that they can "efficiently and responsibly manage this complex system."

"As the only representative union in the company ad 'Aerodromi Crne Gore', we hereby wish to, in a clear and unambiguous manner, once again express our clear position that the concession of the Airport of Montenegro, as one of the key state resources, is detrimental to national interests, economic independence and the future development of the country. Our previously taken and expressed position has an absolute foundation in both economic and financial terms, as well as in strategic terms, given the impact of the airport on tourism in Montenegro as a strategic branch of the development of our country," Martinović announced.

He says that "even an economic layman must be clear" that Airports of Montenegro is a profitable state-owned company, with stable operations and significant potential for further growth and modernization.

"We believe that it is precisely the financial results of the business, which are exact and easily verifiable, and which are the result of the efforts of all employees and good management, that are proof that our company is capable of developing without any change in status, regularly returning previously secured credit funds, which are a prerequisite for modernization and expansion of capacities," he adds.

He reiterates that this year's business results also support this.

Martinović presented the data that Montenegrin airports served 1 million passengers from January 31 to July 1,7, which "represents a historical maximum" for that period.

Compared to the same period in 2024, he explains, this is a seven percent growth, while compared to the record 2019, a 20 percent growth was recorded.

At the same time, airports recorded 16.811 air operations, which is five percent more than last year and three percent more than in the record 2019, he points out.

During the summer season, there are up to 50 active lines from Tivat and 45 from Podgorica, and it is certain, as he said, that Montenegro Airports will exceed three million passengers annually for the first time since its establishment.

"The aforementioned results were achieved by employees at the Podgorica and Tivat airports in almost impossible conditions, since administrative and infrastructural capacities have long since reached their maximum and it is precisely through their dedicated work in operational services and administration that they have proven that they can efficiently and responsibly manage this complex system. All these facts and results unequivocally confirm that Montenegro has the professional capacities to successfully manage its own resources and potentials, and we are convinced that the current government and individuals in decision-making positions will make the only possible and reasonable decision, which is for the ad 'Aerodromi Crne Gore' to remain in state ownership," the statement reads.