Air Montenegro has introduced additional aircraft capacity through a wet-lease agreement with Turkey’s Tailwind Airlines after the delayed delivery of a fourth Embraer E195 created a capacity shortage during the peak summer travel period. The national carrier is temporarily operating a 31-year-old Boeing 737-400 supplied by Tailwind under an ACMI arrangement, under which the lessor provides the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance.
Tailwind Agreement Provides Additional Summer Capacity
The wet lease enables Air Montenegro to increase available capacity without requiring its own crews to receive training for a different aircraft type. The financial terms and duration of the agreement have not been disclosed. The cost impact of the arrangement will depend on factors including the lease rate, aircraft utilisation, fuel consumption and the extent to which the additional capacity prevents cancellations on higher-demand routes.
Delayed Embraer Delivery Affects Fleet Availability
The fourth Embraer E195 was expected to be delivered by the end of June but remained under maintenance in Germany, delaying its entry into Air Montenegro’s fleet. In mid-June, the airline purchased another E195 aircraft that it had previously operated under lease, increasing the number of owned Embraers to three.
The Boeing 737-400 provides short-term operational support, although the aircraft has higher fuel consumption exposure compared with the regional aircraft forming the basis of Air Montenegro’s long-term fleet structure.
Passenger Growth Increases Seasonal Capacity Pressure
Montenegro’s airports handled nearly 1.5 million passengers by early July, representing an increase of approximately 17 per cent compared with the same period in 2025. Airports of Montenegro expects total passenger traffic to reach 3.63 million passengers in 2026, an increase of around 18 per cent for the full year. The company projects net profit of €13.37 million.
The increase in passenger demand during the summer season has led Air Montenegro to secure additional aircraft capacity while operating with a limited fleet. The airline’s fleet strategy combines aircraft ownership with continued exposure to operational risks related to delivery delays and maintenance schedules.
