Government to establish Coordination Body for development and capacity expansion at Podgorica and Tivat airports
The Government of Montenegro will establish an Inter-Ministerial Coordination Body tasked with developing and expanding the capacities of Podgorica and Tivat airports ahead of the start of the next summer season, it was decided at an operational meeting between Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and representatives of the relevant ministries and institutions.
Spajić said on X that work would begin on adapting the airports for next year, along with the urgent preparation of a Master Plan for their long-term development.
- Together with the heads of the relevant ministries and institutions, we have agreed on a clear sequence of steps so that we can enter the next season with expanded terminals, additional gates and an extended runway - and, in general, improved conditions for the growing number of passengers in Podgorica and Tivat. 2026 set the standard; 2027 will surpass it - Spajić said.
According to the Government, Spajić will chair the body, whose members will include representatives of the Ministry of Public Works, the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urban Development and State Property, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Defence, and Airports of Montenegro.
- Given that Airports of Montenegro achieved historic results in both passenger traffic and the development of the air network in 2025 and 2026, while the infrastructure has long been outdated, urgent solutions are needed, as well as the preparation of a long-term Master Plan - the Government said in a statement.
The Prime Minister stressed that the airports must enter the 2027 season in a new guise.
- Following the record-breaking 2026 season, we identified the key challenges. We have established a clear sequence of steps for improvements so that we can respond to the demands of the significant growth in passenger numbers - Spajić said.
In addition to urgent solutions for next year, the Government said that preparing the Master Plan is also a priority, as it will serve as the basis for the long-term development of Podgorica and Tivat airports.
The Government noted that this is a specialised aviation document whose preparation requires a reputable international partner with decades of experience in the field.
- The Master Plan will define precise steps for the company’s development over the next ten years. Key infrastructure projects at Podgorica Airport include the construction of a new terminal, the reconstruction and expansion of the apron, as well as the reconstruction and extension of the runway so that the airport can accommodate and handle wide-body aircraft, as Montenegro must be connected to the rest of the world through direct transoceanic flights. Key infrastructure projects at Tivat Airport, as part of the Master Plan, include the construction of a new terminal, a new apron and taxiway, as well as a comprehensive reconstruction of the runway - the statement said.
Given the urgency of preparing the document, the Government said that one possible way to accelerate the process would be to use mechanisms available under existing intergovernmental agreements.
- In addition, the Master Plan is a necessary formal requirement for applying for and accessing grants from EU funds, as well as favourable loans from international financial institutions. In the meantime, the expert team, led by the Prime Minister, will be tasked with accelerating the preparation and implementation of urgent projects and ensuring the timely removal of administrative, planning, property and legal, financial and other obstacles, within the competences established by law - the statement said.
The Government also announced that it would instruct the management of Airports of Montenegro, in cooperation with members of the Coordination Body, to immediately begin implementing priority activities necessary to maintain operational functionality and increase the capacities of Podgorica and Tivat airports until the new Master Plan is adopted.