Airlines are set to increase winter connectivity between Montenegro and Serbia to 76 weekly flights in the 2026/27 season, strengthening year-round links between the two markets as Montenegro seeks to reduce tourism seasonality. Schedules provide for 45 weekly flights between Podgorica and Belgrade and another 31 between Tivat and Belgrade.
Air Montenegro plans 18 weekly Podgorica-Belgrade flights, compared with 14 initially planned, while Air Serbia will operate 27. On the Tivat-Belgrade route, Air Montenegro plans 10 weekly flights, up from seven last winter, while Air Serbia is scheduled to operate 21. The expansion follows passenger growth on the Montenegro-Serbia market. The routes carried 685,316 passengers in 2025, up 6.6% year on year. Podgorica-Belgrade accounted for 356,896 passengers, while Tivat-Belgrade handled 328,420.
The routes serve tourism, business, family travel and onward connections through Belgrade, supporting demand outside Montenegro’s main summer season.
Tivat Gains Winter Connectivity
Tivat traditionally loses substantial direct international connectivity after October as European airlines reduce or suspend coastal services. The planned 31 weekly Tivat-Belgrade flights would provide more than four daily connections on average, supporting hotels, restaurants and tourism operators seeking to extend operations into autumn and restart earlier in spring.
The additional connectivity could also support Montenegro’s luxury residential and marina sector, where visitors and property owners require access throughout the year. The Tivat market includes the Bay of Kotor, Porto Montenegro, Luštica Bay and the wider Tivat-Kotor-Herceg Novi region, where tourism and residential developments increasingly target travellers outside traditional peak periods.
Podgorica and Belgrade Connections
Podgorica serves a broader year-round market, including government, corporate and family travel, while also providing access to central and northern Montenegro. The planned 45 weekly flights represent more than six daily departures on average and allow short business trips while strengthening Belgrade as a connecting hub. For Air Serbia, Montenegro provides traffic for its wider European and long-haul network, including destinations not directly served from Podgorica or Tivat during winter.
For Air Montenegro, the Serbia routes are among the markets capable of supporting high-frequency operations from both Montenegrin airports outside the summer peak. The increased capacity also creates stronger competition between the two national carriers. Passenger growth of 6.6% in 2025 provides support for the expansion, while winter demand will determine whether the additional seats are absorbed without weakening load factors and yields.
Tourism Season Extension
Montenegro’s tourism authorities have identified a longer season as a strategic priority, as a large share of overnight stays remains concentrated between June and September. Greater air connectivity is one condition for attracting visitors outside those months, while hotels, restaurants, attractions and public services must also remain operational. Serbia is among Montenegro’s important visitor markets, supported by geographic proximity, linguistic familiarity and extensive family and business links. Regional visitors can also support weekend and shoulder-season demand, complementing road transport. The additional winter flights therefore provide a practical test of off-season demand, particularly for Tivat.
Airport Investment
The increase in traffic comes as Montenegro prepares further investment in Podgorica and Tivat airports. Passenger growth has increased pressure on terminals, aprons and runway infrastructure. The government is preparing a 10-year airport development plan, with investment needs discussed at potentially €200 million-€300 million.
Higher winter utilisation could improve the use of airport infrastructure and support stronger annual traffic and revenue profiles, particularly at Tivat, where seasonal concentration is pronounced. The planned 76 weekly Montenegro-Serbia flights strengthen the corridor as a high-frequency year-round connection, with Tivat and Podgorica gaining additional connectivity during the period when Montenegro seeks to generate more tourism demand.
