The airport vehicle for boarding and disembarking persons with disabilities from the plane - the ambulift, which the Airports of Montenegro paid 180 euros for and received in January this year, is not yet in operation at the Podgorica airport, but these persons board the plane by carrying them in wheelchairs or they are carried on a stretcher over the stairs by Airport workers.
The Airport of Montenegro told "Vijesta" that they acquired the ambulance lift at the beginning of this year, after several attempts through public procurement in the past years, and that it will be in operation when the preparatory work is completed, without specifying when that will be.
A person with a disability Danojla Raičević, who had this unpleasant experience as a passenger, told "Vijesti" that the ambulift, which was purchased by a state-owned company at the end of last year, was never put into use and that the current method of boarding and disembarking passengers with disabilities violates international aviation rules.
"That's why people with disabilities at this airport are currently being boarded on planes by airport workers 'carrying' them into the planes on chairs and hands," said Raičević.
She also stated that she has knowledge that the vehicle purchased for the Podgorica airport was not intended for transporting people but food, so she regrets the wasted money and the fact that this issue will not be resolved until further notice.
She emphasized that the state-owned company is lucky that so far no lawsuits have been filed on this basis, because according to court practice, they could pay more than 1.000 euros in compensation.
"The bottom line is that the state company spent these 180 euros without the elevator working, and that not a single clock has been in operation since it was taken over. The situation is unbelievable. The labor inspectorate should react because according to the Labor Law, those people - employees of the Airport - should not bring in people with disabilities. What will happen if someone falls out, who will be responsible?... The chairs are quite narrow and are not designed to be carried up the stairs, but into the elevator and to the seat, where people cannot fall out. Where you have 40 steps, someone can fall out and the Airports will fall to a complete loss. That is irresponsible. According to the law, the problem had to be solved 20 years ago," said Raičević.
She says that this problem was highlighted in the public a few years ago, when the Paralympic athletes visited Montenegro and they did not want to get off the plane because of the fact that someone would carry them.
Raičević also pointed out that carrying passengers with reduced mobility is a special problem for airport workers who perform this work.
On the other hand, the Airport of Montenegro states that after several years of attempts to complete the public procurement, in early 2024 they acquired a used ambulift for the needs of the Podgorica airport.
As they told "Vijesta", this special machine was paid for three times cheaper than if it was new, as well as that the vehicle was delivered after the public procurement procedure. They also state that it will be used in full capacity after the preparatory actions are completed.
"The asset in question is a dedicated airport asset - an ambulift primarily intended, and as such, acquired at the beginning of 2024 to serve passengers with reduced mobility (PRM) and passengers transported on stretchers for the needs of Podgorica Airport. In order for the ambulift to be put into use, it is necessary to carry out the ongoing preparatory activities", they stated from this state-owned company.
The Airport said that the Tivat airport already owns this vehicle and that it is only one of the ways to serve people with disabilities, and that they can board and disembark with the help of specialized carts or stretchers.
They also pointed out that so far several passengers have expressed dissatisfaction with airlines and airports due to the lack of ambulift service.
"Having an ambulift is not a regulatory prerequisite for serving PRM passengers, but it is the best standardized recommended practice. The asset in question was acquired this year for the needs of Podgorica Airport, and Tivat Airport has owned it before," the airport stated.
The tender was unsuccessful three times, so they bought used equipment
According to data from the Montenegrin Electronic Public Procurement (CeJN) website, the airports of Montenegro announced a tender for the purchase of ambulift at the end of September last year, and it lasted for 15 days, i.e. until November 16.
At the beginning of November, the offer of the company "Novi sjerv mont" was chosen as the most favorable, and the contract with that company worth 180.000 euros was signed by the Airports at the end of that month.
According to data from CeJN, the tender now lasted shorter because it was also announced in June last year, as well as twice at the end of 2022.
The procurement of ambulift was canceled twice because no offer was submitted, and once after the bidders were excluded from the procedure. CeJN points out that the tender was shortened because second-hand equipment does not last long on the market.
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