According to a report by Ex-Yu Aviation News, the Montenegrin Government has imposed bans on two routes operated by Pegasus Airlines, which have become popular destinations among Turks.
The decision, as reported, was made due to the negative impact of Pegasus' presence on this route on the performance of Air Montenegro. Consequently, Pegasus Airlines will be compelled to terminate its Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen-Podgorica flights, which commenced in July of last year, as of April 15. Meanwhile, flights by Turkish Airlines and Air Montenegro on this route will continue as usual.
However, Pegasus Airlines will continue its flights from Ankara and Izmir to Podgorica.
Tihomir Dragaš, Chairman of the Board of Air Montenegro, indicated that Pegasus Airlines began its flights based on an agreement signed between the Montenegrin and Turkish Governments, granting flight permits to the national airlines of both countries. Dragaš stated, "Last year, the Ministry of Capital Investments of Montenegro and Turkish aviation authorities signed a memorandum creating an open-skies policy between the two countries. This memorandum, not approved by the government of Montenegro, is entirely illegal. The number of flights has now been limited, and Pegasus Airlines will no longer be able to operate flights between Istanbul and Podgorica as of April 15."
Dragaš noted that Air Montenegro suffered several million euros in losses due to Pegasus' Istanbul-Podgorica flights, mentioning that, according to the memorandum, Pegasus paid €10 per passenger to Air Montenegro. Dragaš argued that Air Montenegro would earn more money on this route with its own flights rather than receiving €10 per passenger from Pegasus. Furthermore, he stated that following the launch of Pegasus' flights on this route, the number of passengers carried by the company between Podgorica and Istanbul decreased by 4% in the first quarter, falling to 54,500 passengers.
