Regional aviation expert Alen Šćuric has criticized Montenegro’s decision to consider granting concessions for its airports, arguing that the Airports of Montenegro (Aerodromi Crne Gore) should handle the required €150 million investment themselves. He believes that the country can finance improvements to bring its airports on par with competitors in Tirana, Dubrovnik and Pristina, without the need for a concessionaire.
Šćuric pointed out that Montenegro heavily relies on tourism and that airports are a key strategic asset that must remain under state control. He also emphasized the failures of airport concession models in neighboring countries, citing issues with airports in Belgrade, Zagreb, Skopje, and Pristina, among others. He believes these experiences show that granting airport concessions often results in poor management and unsatisfactory outcomes for the country.
He further argued that with the current profits of the Airports of Montenegro, the company can take a loan and invest in airport upgrades without needing a foreign concessionaire. He estimated that the company’s growing profit would allow them to repay the necessary loans over time, ultimately benefiting the state financially more than a concession would.
The government has continued the process of considering concessions for Podgorica and Tivat airports, with three international companies qualifying for the next stage of the tender process. However, Minister of Transport Maja Vukićević has emphasized the importance of making a well-considered decision on whether to proceed with a concession, asserting that the state should retain control over the airports for the best long-term interests of the country.
