Serbia blocks Montenegro Airlines flights
The Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate has, as of today, banned Montenegro Airlines from operating flights to Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport after Montenegro excluded Serbia from a list of countries with which it will reopen its borders from June 1. The Montenegrin government announced on Monday it would permit the entry of nationals from European countries which have no more than 25 coronavirus Covid-19 patients per 100.000 inhabitants. The list comprises of nine nations, among which are Croatia, Slovenia and Albania, but does not include neighbouring Serbia or Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serbia has labelled the decision as political. Montenegro declared itself Europe’s first “covid free” state as the country has no active coronavirus cases.
Serbia has lifted entry restrictions and requirements for all nationals. The Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate said the principle of reciprocity has been “seriously violated” by Montenegro’s decision and would negatively impact on the operations of airlines registered in Serbia, hence it has taken the decision to bar Montenegro Airlines from operating to Belgrade. The Montenegrin Ambassador to Serbia, Tarzan Milošević, said the list of countries with which Montenegro plans to reopen its borders in just a few days’ time is yet to be finalised, fuelling hope the spat between the two neighbours may be resolved sooner rather than later.
Montenegro Airlines is currently grounded due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Yesterday morning the carrier said it expects to resume operations during the first half of June and would initially only operate flights from Podgorica and Tivat to Belgrade, with the remainder of its network to be reinstated later on. Following the Serbian Directorate’s decision yesterday evening, the Montenegrin carrier said, “The industry in which we operate should be free of politics. Despite this unexpected decision from Belgrade, Serbia remains part of our future plans”. Montenegro Airlines operated two charter flights to the Serbian capital over the last two days carrying Montenegrin university students studying in Serbia, returning to sit their exams. Air Serbia plans to resume flights from Belgrade to Podgorica and Tivat on June 7.
0 Response to "Serbia blocks Montenegro Airlines flights"
Post a Comment