In order for Montenegro to be ready to welcome new Wizz Air aircraft, which are to be stationed in Podgorica from spring, as well as aircraft from other companies, Airports of Montenegro needs new space for terminals and hangars.
The company recently announced that they are interested in purchasing the bankrupt Vektra Aviation company in order to provide the necessary space, however, Minister of Transport Maja Vukićević believes that buying the entire company, but only the hangars, is not a good solution.
In an interview with TV Vijesti, she said that her reservations regarding this issue are shared by the Protector of Property and Legal Interests, who believes that a better solution is to go directly to the purchase of the building and hangar through a deal.
Vukićević therefore believes that we will still be ready to welcome a large number of aircraft from the low-cost company Wizz Air.
Television Vijesti asked Vukićević when the contractor for the second section of the highway would be selected.
"The latest we were told from Monteput is that the financial part of the offer will be opened by December 20th. I expect those offers to be evaluated quickly."
Can we expect to enter the New Year with a chosen contractor?
"I hope so. This is some of the dynamics that the Monteput company gave us. Of course, it will depend on the time it takes to evaluate those offers."
You recently said that you think Montenegro could manage and valorize its own airports. Why doesn't it do that? When can we expect a final decision regarding the concession of our airports?
"My opinion is that we as a state have the potential to manage our own airports, and I base it on what has been done in the last year and a half. You know that we have managed to contract a large number of flights for next year, which shows that Montenegrin airports are attractive to large companies and confirms that we have successfully managed them during this period."
And how much can we do for the infrastructure that is a problem on our own without a good concessionaire?
"Of course, that is another part of the problem and that is one, let me say, of the advantages of the concession, which is that the concessionaire could perhaps develop the airport infrastructure more quickly. The decision itself on whether to give the airports up for concession should be carefully considered in accordance with the offers that have been received."
Airports need to prepare for spring and new flights from low-cost carrier Wizz Air. Will the government approve money for new hangars?
"They have my support when it comes to buying a hangar or a new terminal building. However, the issue here is the purchase of the Vectra Aviation company as such, and I must tell you that I am very cautious about this issue. We received an opinion from the Protector of Property and Legal Relations, which is negative in that regard, and she believes that a company as such that is in bankruptcy should not be purchased.
Also, her opinion, like mine, is that this assessment of the value of Vektra Aviation itself was not carried out adequately."
What is that value?
"Well, I think the price is somewhere around 5 million and 700. You have to be very careful here, you have to assess it well. So, buying a hangar as a hangar is one thing, and buying a company that is in bankruptcy is a completely different thing. The fact that we need a hangar or that we need a new terminal building does not mean that we should behave irresponsibly, it does not mean that we should not respect the laws. If it is possible, that is, if there is a legal option to buy a hangar, we would certainly have support to approach that or to buy a terminal building, but to buy the company Vektra Aviation, that is a completely different thing."
What are the other options, considering that a large number of flights depart already in the spring, so you don't have much time?
"Well, the other options are what we planned from the start, to try to do something with the existing situation in the sense of making some small expansions and improvisations that we urgently need."
In any case, do you expect the airport's capacities to be ready for spring and for a large number of Wizz Air flights?
"Absolutely".
What about the Jaz-Tivat road? When can we expect its completion?
"It is imperative that they are completed by the start of the next season. So, April or May as the deadline. It is out of the question that we wait another season with work on that road."
When it comes to next year, what projects will be completed and whose start can you announce?
"Certainly the most important project during the coming year is the construction of the highway, no less important is the construction of the Budva bypass, as well as the construction of the bridge at the Šćepan Polje border crossing. The Sokolovina landslide will soon be repaired. It will be passable safely by the end of this year."
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