May 31, 2020 - The National Coordination Body for Infectious Diseases (NKT) decided that, from tomorrow, June 1, Montenegro will open all road border crossings to neighboring countries that were closed as part of measures against the spread of coronavirus.

At midnight, the further border crossings open:

With the Republic of Albania:

- Grnčar - Baškim, on the road Plav - Shkodra and
- Sukobin - Murićan on the way Ulcinj - Shkodra.

With Bosnia and Herzegovina:

- Šćepan Polje - Hum, on the road Plužine - Foča,
- Šula - Vitina, on the road Pljevlja - Foča,
- Sitnica - Zupci on the road Herceg Novi - Trebinje and
- Meteljka - Metaljka on the road Pljevlja - Čajniče.

With the Republic of Croatia Kobila - Vitaljina, on the road Herceg Novi - Vitaljina - Dubrovnik.

With the Republic of Serbia:

- Ranče - Jabuka, on the road Pljevlja - Prijepolje,
- Vuče - Godovo on the road Rožaje - Tutin, and
- Čemerno on the road Pljevlja - Priboj.

The Government announced that the traffic of passengers and goods at these road border crossings would take place following the measures of the NKT. The new measure adopted on Thursday stipulates that when entering Montenegro, the quarantine measure does not prescribe to Montenegrin citizens and foreigners with permanent or temporary residence in our country entering from countries rates of confirmed active cases of coronavirus infection less than 25 cases per 100,000 inhabitants from the list of the Institute of Public Health as well as foreign nationals who are residents of countries on the list and enter from countries on that list.

On the list of countries that currently meet the epidemiological criteria are: Slovenia, Iceland, Croatia, Slovakia, Switzerland, Albania, Austria, Norway, Monaco, Kosovo, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Denmark, Lithuania, Latvia, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Israel, Northern Macedonia, the Republic of Ireland, the Czech Republic, Finland, and Estonia.

The road border crossing Vraćenovići - Deleuša with Bosnia and Herzegovina on the road Nikšić - Bileća, which was closed on February 27 due to the construction of border infrastructure, remains temporarily closed.

May 27, 2020 - The Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate informed Montenegro Airlines late yesterday afternoon that the right of the Montenegrin national airline to land at Belgrade's "Nikola Tesla" airport was suspended.

"Montenegro Airlines is about to fight for faster and better connection of Montenegro with airlines to all European destinations, and we will be committed to this task. The industry in which we operate should not depend on political decisions. Regardless of this unexpected decision of Belgrade, Serbia remains a part of our traffic plans, and we will try to contribute to the consequences of COVID-19, in the economic sense, being remedied as soon as possible, "said Montenegro Airlines.

The officials from the "Nikola Tesla" airport said yesterday that they did not have any official information that the Montenegrin national company's planes were forbidden to land. "We have not officially received anything, we have only seen in the media that the landing of Montenegro Airlines is prohibited," they stated.

The government in Podgorica announced on Monday that it had decided to reopen borders with some countries as of June 1st, but they remained closed to Serbia and Republika Srpska.

Montenegro Airlines announced yesterday that it is preparing for the renewal of commercial flights and that the first flights will be to Belgrade.

However, the Civil Aviation Directorate decided to deny permits to the Montenegrin airline. The explanation of the decision, they stated that the decision of the government in Podgorica violated the principle of reciprocity in the movement of passengers between the two countries.

It, as stated, directly affects the reciprocity in the operation of scheduled air transport referred to in Article 13, paragraph 1 of the Ordinance on the issuance of approval to foreign air carriers to operate international public air transport with the Republic of Serbia, to the detriment of registered airlines in Serbia.

Montenegro's decision on opening its borders with some countries, among which there's no Serbia, is not political but just related to the epidemic situation, said Montenegro's Prime Minister, Dusko Markovic, after the Prime Minister's Hour.

Montenegro's decision to keep its border with Serbia closed provoked sharp reactions from some Serbian officials. PM Markovic said that Montenegro wanted to act responsibly.

"There's no rational explanation for reactions from Belgrade. Serbia was the first one to close the border with Montenegro. It banned the export of medical equipment to Montenegro, the export of wheat as well. We never reacted to that. We thought such decisions were in the interest of their citizens", PM reminded, adding that the decision regarding borders is in the interest of Montenegrin citizens.

Commenting on Serbia's decision to ban Montenegro Airlines flights at Nikola Tesla Airport, PM Markovic said he would look for the alternatives.

"We think that the decision is not logical. We are going to look for alternatives, like for wheat. We are not going to ask for the explanation," Markovic said.

He pointed out that telephones "are in function and Serbian authorities can always call and ask anything regarding our decisions".

Source: CdM, B92.net

The national airline, Montenegro Airlines (MA), has started preparations for commercial flights starting from June after an almost three-month suspension of flights due to the coronavirus pandemic. The plan is to have the first flights to Belgrade, but the overall traffic will still be reduced until 14 June 2020, including that date.

“It means that all flights to European destinations are still not allowed, except for Belgrade. In the beginning, flights to Belgrade, from Podgorica and Tivat, will be organized with reduced intensity but on a daily basis, i.e. from Podgorica – once or twice per day, and from Tivat – once per day every day,“ the national airline told CdM.

They expect the traffic to other regular European destinations to be allowed during the last week of June.

Montenegro will open its borders in early June, but only for certain countries, that is, for those with the same or similar epidemiological situation.

Tivat Airport procedure for general aviation flights

The liberalization of cross-border road traffic is expected soon

May 17, 2020 - Montenegro Airlines management has announced that they expect to have their first commercial flights in June.

Representatives of the national airline assume that the first flights will be established to destinations in the region, it was announced to Pobjeda from Montenegro Airlines.

"Having in mind the easing of restrictions in Montenegro as well as in a number of European countries in the last few days, we expect to have the first flights in June to destinations with a similar epidemiological situation," Pobjeda from Montenegro Airlines said.

Montenegro Airlines assumes that the first flights will be established to destinations in the region.

"Then, in the next month, flights would be established to all destinations to which we travel. Of course, provided that flying to those countries is allowed ", said Montenegro Airlines.

Passenger commercial air traffic in Montenegro has been suspended since March 16, except for the announced arrival of Montenegrin citizens through diplomatic and consular missions.

"At the moment, all Montenegro Airlines commercial flights are suspended until May 31. Of course, this is not a final decision, because the establishment of commercial air traffic depends on the decisions and guidelines of domestic and international bodies and authorities responsible for civil aviation, and also depends on the protocols relating to health measures and travel restrictions in countries to which MA is flying ", explained the representatives of the national airline, emphasizing that their fleet is ready to establish traffic.