Montenegro’s 2026 tourism season will depend heavily on the performance of Podgorica Airport and Tivat Airport, as passenger capacity, airline connectivity and route development become central factors for visitor arrivals alongside hotels, beaches and resorts.
For a country with a concentrated coastal tourism season, air access represents a key element of market competitiveness. Early aviation figures show limited growth in the first quarter of 2026, while stronger traffic expectations are linked to the summer flight schedule.
Passenger traffic shows limited first-quarter growth
During January–March 2026, Podgorica Airport handled 255,560 passengers, compared with 255,380 passengers in the same period a year earlier. At Tivat Airport, passenger traffic reached 54,780 passengers, increasing from 53,100 passengers recorded in the previous year.
The number of aircraft movements declined slightly during the period, falling to 3,115 from 3,127, indicating that early-year traffic growth was not accompanied by significant additional capacity expansion.
Wizz Air base and new routes expected to increase traffic
The stronger changes are expected during the summer season. Airports of Montenegro forecasts that total passenger traffic at Podgorica and Tivat airports will increase by 18% to 3.63 million passengers in 2026. The expected growth is linked to the opening of a Wizz Air base in Podgorica in late March and the introduction of 17 new routes connecting the Montenegrin capital with major European cities. The expansion of air links is expected to influence Montenegro’s access to European tourism markets by increasing the number of available connections.
State incentives target airline expansion
Airports of Montenegro plans to allocate more than €18 million for an airline incentive scheme in 2026. The programme will provide discounts to carriers that maintain frequent services to Montenegro, introduce new routes or base aircraft at Tivat Airport and Podgorica Airport. The planned incentive allocation is 41% higher than in the previous year and is intended to support airline decisions related to route development and operational presence in Montenegro.
Tivat and Podgorica serve different tourism markets
Montenegro’s airport network plays different roles within the country’s tourism structure. Tivat Airport serves as the main gateway for the Bay of Kotor, Porto Montenegro, Luštica Bay, Portonovi, Budva and the premium coastal tourism segment.
Podgorica Airport provides connectivity for the capital, central Montenegro, the southern and northern regions, as well as markets seeking broader and lower-cost air connections. Airport capacity, connectivity and passenger processing directly affect tourism operators, as limited access can influence visitor choices among Mediterranean destinations.
Airport concession remains a major infrastructure issue
The future of the Airports of Montenegro concession process remains a key issue for aviation infrastructure development. Government planning has included a 30-year concession requiring the selected operator to provide a €100 million upfront payment and invest at least €300 million in the expansion and modernisation of Podgorica and Tivat airport terminals.
The planned investment framework focuses on increasing capacity, improving passenger experience, expanding routes and developing commercial airport revenues.
Tivat investment priorities focus on premium tourism demand
Tivat Airport represents a particular investment priority because it connects directly with Montenegro’s highest-value coastal tourism assets. The airport remains affected by strong seasonality and capacity limitations. Improvements in terminal operations, baggage handling, border control, retail services, parking facilities, transfers and airline scheduling would support the development of higher-spending tourism segments.
Podgorica Airport has the potential to strengthen year-round connectivity if the Wizz Air base and new routes contribute to improved access outside the peak summer period. The tourism sector’s expansion is closely linked to aviation capacity, with accommodation, marina, restaurant and real estate developments depending on efficient visitor access to Montenegro.
