Jat Airways and Montenegro Airlines merger talk rebuffed

Jat Airways and Montenegro Airlines merger talk rebuffed

The Belgrade daily Politika published an article mentioning alleged plans that the two companies have in regards to their future co-operation and merging.

Montenegro Airlines officials reported have been heard saying that their company might only co-operate with Jat Airways, while the Serbian Ministry for Capital investments mentioned the possibility of a merger.

Radoš Šućur, Montenegrin Associate Minister of Transport, denied that his ministry gave permission to a merger of the two companies.

“Montenegro Airlines entered the Montenegrin privatization plan, and the preparation of a tender for its sale is underway. The prospects of the tender exclude any possibility of merging with any other company”, Šućur said.

Šućur added that “Nebojša Starčević form Jat Airways has contacted him to schedule a meeting with Montenegro Airlines.

“Our Ministry is familiar with the fact that Jat has an excess of the air traffic market, while Montenegro Airlines has a well-kept fleet. They could indeed co-operate to some extent”, Šućur concluded.

Montenegro Airlines representatives confirmed that they had talks with the Serbian company, but rejected allegations that their company had economic difficulties and called on Jat Airways for help.