Podgorica Airport
Encyclopedia
Podgorica Airport is an international airport
located 11 km (6.8 mi) south of Podgorica
, Montenegro
. It is the main hub
for Montenegro Airlines
.
It is one of two public airports in Montenegro, the other being Tivat Airport
. Both are operated by the state-owned company Airports of Montenegro (Аеродроми Црне Горе, Aerodromi Crne Gore). The airport is sometimes called Golubovci Airport by the locals, as the town of Golubovci
is in close proximity. Airports Council International
awarded Podgorica the best airport under 1 million passengers in 2007.
The IATA code of the airport is still TGD because Podgorica was named Titograd (after Josip Broz Tito
) from 1946 to 1992, during which time the airport opened.
The airport handles domestic flights within Montenegro
as well as international flights. As Montenegro's two main airports are merely 80 km apart, there are no regular passenger domestic flights. Domestic flights have been reduced to charter flights and general aviation
, and all scheduled traffic is international.
There are daily scheduled flights to various European destinations. During the summer season, there are many charter flights and air connections to various major cities in the world. The flight to Belgrade airport has traditionally accounted for majority of the traffic at the airport, but the percentage is decreasing.
VIP and taxi airlines Vektra Aviation
, Di Air
and OKI Air
are based at the airport. Serbian VIP airlines Air Pink
and Prince Aviation
also use the airport.
Podgorica Airport served 538,477 passengers in 2008. However, due to global economic downturn, passenger numbers declined to 450,504 in 2009. In 2010, strong growth was recorded, so numbers passed the 600,000 mark.
, south of Podgorica. Since its opening, it catered to both civil aviation and Yugoslav Air Force
. It was, along with the Tivat Airport, owned by Yugoslav Airlines
until 2003, when Government of Montenegro
bought both airports. The airport was a frequent target during 1999 NATO bombing
, when numerous Podgorica Airbase
facilities and underground fuel tanks were destroyed. However, no significant damage on the passenger terminal or runway and taxiway systems was inflicted.
The airport has ICAO classification 4E ILS Cat I. However, ILS landing is possible only on runway 36, as northern approach to runway 18 is visual only, possible under perfect VMC
. This is due to proximity of Dinaric Alps
in the north.
A major renovation and expansion took place in 2006, with a refurbishment and extension of the apron and improvements to the taxiways system, airfield lighting system and power supply. Entirely new passenger terminal was built, while the old passenger terminal underwent reconstruction and refurbishment in 2009. There are 6 aprons instead of previous 3, and further extension of up to 8 aprons is possible.
The improved taxiway system allowed for wide-body aircraft
to be serviced at the airport. Thus, the airport began servicing Il-86
s and first Boeing 747
freighter paid visit to the airport in April 2008.
The new passenger terminal (5,500 m²) opened on May 14, 2006. It has eight departure and two arrival gates, and is able to handle up to 1 million passengers annually.
The main terminal building is a modern aluminium and glass structure, featuring advanced architectural solutions such as indirect lighting throughout the building. Since its opening, it features Costa Coffee
outlet, two newspaper stalls, a duty-free shop, rent-a-car posts, and CKB bank outlet. Although the airport is considered a low-risk one, security screening has been visibly increased since the introduction of the new terminal. Security measures and monitoring that are standard for European airports are applied on the terminal.
Although a completely new building, it does not feature jetways, as passenger flow at the airport does not impose the need for ones.
The old terminal building is now housing medical staff, the Airports of Montenegro school center, lost-and-found luggage, airlines offices, a VIP lounge and a press conference hall. It was completely renovated and opened on September 15, 2009 and is now intended for VIP use and general aviation
.
.
Part of the military complex was also 08/26 runway, which was not used by civilian planes, as it is barely marked and only 15 metres wide. It is connected to the main 18/36 runway by a 3 km long taxiway, and is located adjacent to Šipčanik Hill, near the town of Tuzi
. The hill doubled as an underground aircraft shelter, and was seriously damaged during the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
. It was recently converted into a wine cave
by the Plantaže
company. The 08/26 runway is currently unused, and is unclear what will be its future use.
With Montenegro's independence on June 3, 2006, the newly formed Military of Montenegro
announced that it will not maintain a combat air force. Currently, nine G-4 Super Galeb
s have Podgorica Airbase as their home base, and it is not known whether any of the planes will be retained.
road (E65
/E80
), via short detour. Stretch of this road, from Podgorica to the airport, has been upgraded to expressway
standard. Drive from the city center to the airport usually takes less than 15 minutes.
With the construction of Sozina tunnel
, the airport is some 40 km away from Bar, Montenegro's main port, and so airport increasingly caters to needs of cities on southern part of Montenegin coast.
Public transportation to and from airport is covered by buses and taxis.
International airport
An international airport is any airport that can accommodate flights from other countries and are typically equipped with customs and immigration facilities to handle these flights to and from other countries...
located 11 km (6.8 mi) south of Podgorica
Podgorica
Podgorica , is the capital and largest city of Montenegro.Podgorica's favourable position at the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers and the meeting point of the fertile Zeta Plain and Bjelopavlići Valley has encouraged settlement...
, Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
. It is the main hub
Airline hub
An airline hub is an airport that an airline uses as a transfer point to get passengers to their intended destination. It is part of a hub and spoke model, where travelers moving between airports not served by direct flights change planes en route to their destinations...
for Montenegro Airlines
Montenegro Airlines
Montenegro Airlines d.o.o., operating as Montenegro Airlines, is the national carrier airline of the country of Montenegro, and flag carrier of the Montenegro, headquartered in Podgorica. It operates scheduled services in Europe, as well as charter flights throughout Europe during the summer...
.
It is one of two public airports in Montenegro, the other being Tivat Airport
Tivat Airport
Tivat Airport is an international airport located from the centre of Tivat, Montenegro in the center of the Boka Kotorska bay....
. Both are operated by the state-owned company Airports of Montenegro (Аеродроми Црне Горе, Aerodromi Crne Gore). The airport is sometimes called Golubovci Airport by the locals, as the town of Golubovci
Golubovci
Golubovci is a small town in the Podgorica municipality of Montenegro. It is the seat of the Golubovci urban municipality, a subdivision of the Podgorica municipality. The town is located some 15 km south of the city of Podgorica, in the fertile Zeta valley...
is in close proximity. Airports Council International
Airports Council International
Airports Council International is the association of the world’s airports. It is a non profit organization, whose prime purpose is to advance the interests of airports and to promote professional excellence in airport management and operations...
awarded Podgorica the best airport under 1 million passengers in 2007.
The IATA code of the airport is still TGD because Podgorica was named Titograd (after Josip Broz Tito
Josip Broz Tito
Marshal Josip Broz Tito – 4 May 1980) was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman. While his presidency has been criticized as authoritarian, Tito was a popular public figure both in Yugoslavia and abroad, viewed as a unifying symbol for the nations of the Yugoslav federation...
) from 1946 to 1992, during which time the airport opened.
The airport handles domestic flights within Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
as well as international flights. As Montenegro's two main airports are merely 80 km apart, there are no regular passenger domestic flights. Domestic flights have been reduced to charter flights and general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
, and all scheduled traffic is international.
There are daily scheduled flights to various European destinations. During the summer season, there are many charter flights and air connections to various major cities in the world. The flight to Belgrade airport has traditionally accounted for majority of the traffic at the airport, but the percentage is decreasing.
VIP and taxi airlines Vektra Aviation
Vektra Aviation
Vektra Aviation is a VIP airline based in Podgorica, Montenegro. Its main base is Podgorica Airport.- History :The airline was established in 2006, and is catering to needs of Vektra Corporation, as well as providing services of air charter. The company owns a hangar at Podgorica Airport sufficient...
, Di Air
Di Air
DI Air is an airline based in Podgorica, Montenegro. It operates international charter flights from Podgorica and Tivat to neighbouring countries. Its main base is Podgorica Airport, with a hub at Tivat Airport.- History :...
and OKI Air
OKI Air International
OKI Air International is an airline based in Podgorica, Montenegro. It is a privately owned charter airline operating within Montenegro and the surrounding area...
are based at the airport. Serbian VIP airlines Air Pink
Air Pink
Airpink is a private business jet charter airline based in Belgrade, Serbia. It was founded in October 2004 as part of Pink International Company owned by Željko Mitrović. Its main base is the Belgrade Nikola Tesla International Airport. Airpink employs 8 captains, 6 first-officers and 4 flight...
and Prince Aviation
Prince Aviation
Prince Aviation is a VIP airline in Serbia. It was founded in 1989. Its main base is the Belgrade Nikola Tesla International Airport in Belgrade.-History:...
also use the airport.
Podgorica Airport served 538,477 passengers in 2008. However, due to global economic downturn, passenger numbers declined to 450,504 in 2009. In 2010, strong growth was recorded, so numbers passed the 600,000 mark.
Overview
The airport was built in 1961, in Zeta PlainZeta plain
Zeta Plain is a fertile lowland in Montenegro. It stretches from Podgorica in the north to the Skadar Lake in the south. It is the biggest plains area in Montenegro, with an average elevation around above sea level....
, south of Podgorica. Since its opening, it catered to both civil aviation and Yugoslav Air Force
SFR Yugoslav Air Force
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslav Air Force , was the air force of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia . Formed in 1945, it was preceded by the Yugoslav Royal Air Force which was disbanded in 1941, following the German occupation of Yugoslavia...
. It was, along with the Tivat Airport, owned by Yugoslav Airlines
Jat Airways
Jat Airways is the national airline of Serbia and the former national airline of Yugoslavia, and has its head office in the Jat Airways Business Center in Belgrade. It was established in 1927 as Aeroput, making it currently one of the world's oldest airlines still in operation...
until 2003, when Government of Montenegro
Government of Montenegro
The Government of Montenegro is the executive branch of state authority in Montenegro. It is headed by the prime minister. It comprises the prime minister, the deputy prime ministers as well as ministers....
bought both airports. The airport was a frequent target during 1999 NATO bombing
1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
The NATO bombing of Yugoslavia was NATO's military operation against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War. The strikes lasted from March 24, 1999 to June 10, 1999...
, when numerous Podgorica Airbase
Podgorica Airbase
The Podgorica Airbase is an active airbase in Montenegro. The airbase facilities are shared with Montenegro's main international airport, Podgorica Airport. It is the main base of the air arm of the Military of Montenegro...
facilities and underground fuel tanks were destroyed. However, no significant damage on the passenger terminal or runway and taxiway systems was inflicted.
The airport has ICAO classification 4E ILS Cat I. However, ILS landing is possible only on runway 36, as northern approach to runway 18 is visual only, possible under perfect VMC
Visual meteorological conditions
In aviation, visual meteorological conditions is an aviation flight category in which visual flight rules flight is permitted—that is, conditions in which pilots have sufficient visibility to fly the aircraft maintaining visual separation from terrain and other aircraft. They are the opposite of...
. This is due to proximity of Dinaric Alps
Dinaric Alps
The Dinaric Alps or Dinarides form a mountain chain in Southern Europe, spanning areas of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro....
in the north.
A major renovation and expansion took place in 2006, with a refurbishment and extension of the apron and improvements to the taxiways system, airfield lighting system and power supply. Entirely new passenger terminal was built, while the old passenger terminal underwent reconstruction and refurbishment in 2009. There are 6 aprons instead of previous 3, and further extension of up to 8 aprons is possible.
The improved taxiway system allowed for wide-body aircraft
Wide-body aircraft
A wide-body aircraft is a large airliner with two passenger aisles, also known as a widebody aircraft or twin-aisle aircraft. The typical fuselage diameter is . In the typical wide-body economy cabin, passengers are seated seven to ten abreast, allowing a total capacity of 200 to 850 passengers...
to be serviced at the airport. Thus, the airport began servicing Il-86
Ilyushin Il-86
The Ilyushin Il-86 is a medium-range wide-body jet airliner. It was the USSR's first wide-body and the world's second four-engined wide-body...
s and first Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
freighter paid visit to the airport in April 2008.
Terminals
As air traffic in Montenegro saw a rapid increase in recent years, the now called "old" passenger terminal, a small, single-story building, with one international and one domestic departure gate, has become inadequate. This led to the construction of an entirely new terminal.The new passenger terminal (5,500 m²) opened on May 14, 2006. It has eight departure and two arrival gates, and is able to handle up to 1 million passengers annually.
The main terminal building is a modern aluminium and glass structure, featuring advanced architectural solutions such as indirect lighting throughout the building. Since its opening, it features Costa Coffee
Costa Coffee
Costa Coffee is a British coffeehouse company founded in 1971 by Italian brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa, as a wholesale operation supplying roasted coffee to caterers and specialist Italian coffee shops. Since 1995 it has been a subsidiary of Whitbread, since when the company has grown to over...
outlet, two newspaper stalls, a duty-free shop, rent-a-car posts, and CKB bank outlet. Although the airport is considered a low-risk one, security screening has been visibly increased since the introduction of the new terminal. Security measures and monitoring that are standard for European airports are applied on the terminal.
Although a completely new building, it does not feature jetways, as passenger flow at the airport does not impose the need for ones.
The old terminal building is now housing medical staff, the Airports of Montenegro school center, lost-and-found luggage, airlines offices, a VIP lounge and a press conference hall. It was completely renovated and opened on September 15, 2009 and is now intended for VIP use and general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
.
Military usage
Podgorica Airport is a public airport, but shares the main runway with nearby Podgorica Military Air BasePodgorica Airbase
The Podgorica Airbase is an active airbase in Montenegro. The airbase facilities are shared with Montenegro's main international airport, Podgorica Airport. It is the main base of the air arm of the Military of Montenegro...
.
Part of the military complex was also 08/26 runway, which was not used by civilian planes, as it is barely marked and only 15 metres wide. It is connected to the main 18/36 runway by a 3 km long taxiway, and is located adjacent to Šipčanik Hill, near the town of Tuzi
Tuzi
Tuzi is a town in the Podgorica municipality, Montenegro, located along a main road between the city of Podgorica and the Albanian border crossing, just a few kilometers north of Lake Skadar. The exact location of Tuzi is...
. The hill doubled as an underground aircraft shelter, and was seriously damaged during the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
The NATO bombing of Yugoslavia was NATO's military operation against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War. The strikes lasted from March 24, 1999 to June 10, 1999...
. It was recently converted into a wine cave
Wine cave
Wine caves are subterranean structures for the storage and aging of wine. They are an integral component of the wine industry world wide. The design and construction of wine caves represents a unique application of underground construction techniques....
by the Plantaže
Plantaže
-Overview:In the period from 1977 to 1982, AD Plantaže, joint stock company presently incorporated into Holding company "Agrokombinat 13 jul", transformed a barren and waterless Ćemovsko field into the vineyards and one of the largest gardens on the Balkans....
company. The 08/26 runway is currently unused, and is unclear what will be its future use.
With Montenegro's independence on June 3, 2006, the newly formed Military of Montenegro
Military of Montenegro
The Military of Montenegro consists of an army, navy and air force. Conscription was abolished in 2006; the military is now a fully professional standing army....
announced that it will not maintain a combat air force. Currently, nine G-4 Super Galeb
G-4 Super Galeb
The Soko G-4 Super Galeb is a single engine, advanced jet trainer and light ground-attack aircraft.-Design and development:First flown on 17 July 1978, with serial production beginning in 1982, the G-4 was designed to replace the G-2 Galeb in the Yugoslav Air Force.-Operational history:The G-4 saw...
s have Podgorica Airbase as their home base, and it is not known whether any of the planes will be retained.
Airlines and destinations
Accessibility
Podgorica Airport is accessible by Podgorica - BarBar, Montenegro
Bar is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has a population of 17,727...
road (E65
European route E65
European route E 65 is a north-south Class-A European route that begins in Malmö, Sweden and ends in Chaniá, Greece. The road is about in length.-Itinerary:* Sweden** E 65: Malmö – Ystad* Baltic sea, ferry Ystad-Świnoujście* Poland...
/E80
European route E80
European route E 80, also known as Trans-European Motorway or TEM, is an A-Class West-East European route, extending from Lisbon, Portugal to Gürbulak, Turkey, on the border with Iran...
), via short detour. Stretch of this road, from Podgorica to the airport, has been upgraded to expressway
Limited-access road
A limited-access road known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway and expressway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway , including limited or no access to adjacent...
standard. Drive from the city center to the airport usually takes less than 15 minutes.
With the construction of Sozina tunnel
Sozina tunnel
The Sozina Tunnel is a road tunnel in Montenegro, and is a part of E65 European route. It is located north of town of Sutomore, and is designed to bypass the mountain range "Paštrovska Gora" that separates Montenegrin coast from Zeta plain and Skadar Lake basin .The road tunnel "Sozina" is 4,189 m...
, the airport is some 40 km away from Bar, Montenegro's main port, and so airport increasingly caters to needs of cities on southern part of Montenegin coast.
Public transportation to and from airport is covered by buses and taxis.
Accidents
- On 11 September 1973, Podgorica Airport was the destination of Jat AirwaysJat AirwaysJat Airways is the national airline of Serbia and the former national airline of Yugoslavia, and has its head office in the Jat Airways Business Center in Belgrade. It was established in 1927 as Aeroput, making it currently one of the world's oldest airlines still in operation...
Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle 6-NSud Aviation CaravelleThe Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle was the first short/medium-range jet airliner produced by the French Sud Aviation firm starting in 1955 . The Caravelle was one of the more successful European first generation jetliners, selling throughout Europe and even penetrating the United States market, with...
(YU-AHDJAT Yugoslav Airlines Maganik CrashA JAT Yugoslav Airlines flight, carried out by a Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle 6-N , was nearing its end completing a scheduled domestic Flight JU 769 from Skopje, SR Macedonia to Titograd , SR Montenegro when it crashed into Maganik mountain killing all 41 passengers and crew, along with the...
), which flew into the Babin Zub peak on MaganikMaganikMaganik is a mountain range in Central Montenegro. The highest point of Maganik is Međeđi Vrh , which is high.-Features:...
mountain north of Podgorica. All 41 on board perished.
- On 25 January 2005, Montenegro AirlinesMontenegro AirlinesMontenegro Airlines d.o.o., operating as Montenegro Airlines, is the national carrier airline of the country of Montenegro, and flag carrier of the Montenegro, headquartered in Podgorica. It operates scheduled services in Europe, as well as charter flights throughout Europe during the summer...
Fokker 100 (YU-AOM) nosegear collapsed after runway excursion during a night landing in snowy conditions. The nosegear collapsed and the airplane skidded for about 700 meters before coming to rest, 1180 meters after touchdown. Two passengers, the pilot and copilot were lightly injured. The airline was sued by passengers, as it was the only airline to operate flights to Podgorica that evening (other airlines canceled flights due to insufficient ice clearance technology at the airport).