The coronavirus crisis has derailed and temporarily postponed the completion of leasing out the Montenegrin airports. However, despite the obvious delays, the interest in the airports in Podgorica and Tivat hasn’t declined at all. On the contrary – says Eugenio Perisse, head of the business sector of the Corporacion America Airports from Luxembourg, in an interview for Dnevne Novine daily. They are eagerly waiting for Montenegro to give the green light and continue with the tender process.
No giving up
According to Mr Perisse, Corporacion America Airports is not considering giving up the Montenegrin airports.
“I can confirm that Corporacion America Airports is still very interested in the tender process. We are waiting for the pandemic to end, but most importantly, we are waiting for the Montenegrin authorities to decide to proceed with the airport leasing process. Once the decision is made, Corporacion America Airports will to be there to continue with the work.”
Second phase
The second phase of the concession procedure for Montenegrin airports should be announced by the end of the year. The French-Turkish consortium (ADP-TAV) remain in the race, as well as the renowned companies Incheon International Airport Corporation from South Korea and Corporacion America Airports from Luxembourg, which are to submit the final bids.
Investment in Podgorica
The concession is granted for 30 years, while the investment in the airports during that period must not be less than 200 million euro. The lease is divided into 3 phases, and during the first three years, the future tenant will have to invest a minimum of 80 million euro in the airport infrastructure. The focus of construction interventions at the airport in Golubovci refers to the expansion and construction of the passenger terminal and part of the access platform, access roads and parking, expansion of the fire station as well as the reconstruction and expansion of existing business and service facilities currently used by a number of legal entities, and construction of cargo terminals.
Investment in Tivat
Somewhat larger reconstruction works are planned for Tivat airport. The concession act says that the first phase of the construction at Tivat airports envisages a water terminal (Tivat SkyPier) for public transport of passengers by sea, including access roads, as well as the construction of the Marine Air Terminal (MAT) near the water terminal for the reception of passengers who use sea transport to come to the airport. In addition, the existing runway must be repaired, after which follows its extension (relocation of the landing site for access from the direction RWY14) and relocation of the existing road to the Island of Flowers and its construction on a new, planned location in the DSL. The following facilities are envisaged in this area: Existing terminal; Control tower; Administrative building; Exit gate; Cargo / TS; Fire station; Hangar; Planned terminal; Catering; Marine Air Terminal MAT; Water terminal; Weather station.
What does the concession not include?
The future concession will not include two things. First, flight control will remain the responsibility of SMATSA. Second, customs and passport control will remain under the competencies of the Customs Administration, the Ministry of Finance, the Police Administration and the Ministry of the Interior.
