Another new airline: Podgorica - Antalya route opened

Antalya is the latest in a series of new destinations connected by direct flights to Podgorica Airport, Montenegro Airport announced.

As they said, traffic on this route has been announced twice a week - on Sundays and Tuesdays, and is operated by the airline SunExpress.

The ceremonial welcoming of the first passengers was attended by a member of the Board of Directors of the Airport of Montenegro, Nikola Bajčetić, the Director of Podgorica Airport, Dragan Milanović, and the Minister of Tourism, Simonida Kordić.

"Montenegrin airports have done their job and opened a route between Podgorica and this world-famous, all-inclusive destination. No less important, along with the new airline, our country has also gained a new partner today. This is the airline SunExpress, which is 50 percent owned by Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa. And when such an airline opens a new market, it means that they are interested in long-term cooperation, not a one-off seasonal excursion. In addition, the arrival of SunExpress is a signal to other airlines about our potential," said Bajčetić.

He reminded that 18 new routes have been opened at Podgorica Airport this summer, and two in Tivat so far, with the Spanish national airline Iberia also arriving in Montenegro from mid-July, opening the Madrid - Tivat line.

"Airports, as you know, operate under difficult conditions. While we await the decision on the concession, all work rests on the enthusiasm of the employees, whom I still thank for their dedication, and the extent of the scope of work was best demonstrated recently by the uninterrupted service of planes and passengers of the highest European statesmen in both Tivat and Podgorica, along with all regular commercial traffic," Bajčetić emphasized.

Minister of Tourism, Simonida Kordić, assessed that the opening of another new route is an indicator that Montenegro is becoming increasingly visible on the map of European and global air traffic.

"Today we are not just talking about a new airline. We are talking about new opportunities for the development of tourism, the economy and the overall connectivity of Montenegro with key source markets. Air accessibility is one of the basic prerequisites for tourism success. Without quality connectivity, there is no sustainable growth of tourism. That is precisely why we are strongly focused on expanding the airline network and bringing in new carriers. The results clearly confirm that this is the right path," Kordić emphasized.

"This is also another confirmation of an extremely successful aviation season. Let me remind you that Wizz Air, which opened a base at Podgorica Airport this year, launched as many as seventeen new routes to numerous European destinations. With today's flight to Antalya, we reach a total of 18 new routes in just one season from Podgorica Airport, which is an unprecedented result in the history of Montenegrin civil aviation," she noted.

From the beginning of the year to the end of May, Montenegrin airports served more than 890 thousand passengers, which represents an increase of about eight percent compared to the record year of 2025.

"This is the best indicator that investing in air accessibility is bringing results and that we are moving in the right direction. That is why I would like to thank SunExpress for its trust, Airports of Montenegro for their dedicated work, as well as all partners who contribute to strengthening our tourism," concluded Kordić.