Podgorica Airport

History of civil aviation in Podgorica begins on 29 May 1928, with landing of Aeroput Potez 29/2 biplane on a grass runway located in Ćemovsko polje. This flight was a second leg of an experimental circular route, originating and terminating in Belgrade, flown via Skopje, Podgorica, Mostar Airport and Sarajevo, with the aim of exploring viability of regular air travel in southern Kingdom of Yugoslavia. On 5 May 1930, an Aeroput Farman F.300 landed at an airfield near Stara Varoš, carrying passengers on a Belgrade - Sarajevo - Podgorica route, marking the beginning of passenger air traffic in Podgorica. During World War II, Podgorica airfield was used by the occupying Axis powers, making it a target for devastating Allied bombings in 1943 and 1944. Scheduled passenger service at the airport began on 8 April 1946, with three weekly flights on Podgorica - Belgrade route. Service was operated by JAT, using Douglas C-47 airplanes, converted for passenger use. In April 1957, JAT began operating scheduled cargo flights to Belgrade, via Sarajevo. Location of the airport was a limiting factor for further expansion, resulting in a decision to build a new airport further south and away from Podgorica urban area. Podgorica Airport exists on its current location since 1961, sharing a asphalt runway with Podgorica Airbase, with old airport being relegated to general aviation use. Airport facilities underwent significant expansion in 1977. In 1996, Podgorica Airport became a base for a Montenegro Airlines, with airline fleet initially being a single Fokker F28. Due to proximity of Podgorica Airbase facilities, passenger terminal of the airport sustained minor damage during NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999. Since its construction in 1961 until 2003, Podgorica Airport was owned and managed by Belgrade-based JAT Airways. The airline operated Podgorica Airport as a feeder to its Belgrade hub, with Podgorica - Belgrade flights accounting for the overwhelming majority of passenger traffic. This practice largely ended with the transfer of airport ownership to government owned public company Airports of Montenegro, which took place on 23 April 2003. Airport facilities underwent major upgrade in 2006, including construction of a new passenger terminal building, apron extension, taxiway system overhaul, and updated airfield lighting system. ==Facilities==

Terminals Podgorica Airport has a single passenger terminal building, in use since 14 May 2006. A single-level building with floor area features • 8 check in counters • 2 departure lanes (2 boarding ticket checkpoints, followed by 2 border control points and 2 security checkpoints) • 8 departure gates • 2 arrival gates • 6 arrival border check points • 2 baggage claim conveyors Passengers usually walk between the gate and the aircraft, while airport busses are used mainly during summer peak traffic or heavy rainfall. Mobile stairs are used for passenger boarding and deplaning, as terminal building does not feature jet bridges. Old terminal building has been repurposed for administrative use, and is not accessible to passengers. Airport features publicly accessible parking lot with capacity for 300 vehicles. The terminal has been designed to handle up to a million passenger per year, and is operating beyond capacity since 2017, with most extreme overcrowding during summer peak traffic. Runway Podgorica airport features a single runway, marked 18/36, owing to its perfect north / south alignment. The runway is long and wide, while parallel taxiway is present for the entire length of the runway. The airport has ICAO classification 4E ILS Cat I, though ILS landing is only possible on runway 36; the northern approach to runway 18 is visual only, possible under perfect VMC, due to the proximity of the Dinaric Alps in the north. During standard runway 36 approach, airliners align with the runway by performing a spectacular 200° right turn, above the surface of Lake Skadar. Military use Podgorica Airport shares a runway with Montenegrin Air Force Podgorica Airbase. In addition to the airbase proper and adjacent apron, military facilities included Šipčanik complex - underground aircraft shelter tunneled into the eponymous hill, as well as taxiway, connecting the complex to main runway. In an emergency, jets stored in the shelter could scramble using the wider, northern section of the taxiway. As Montenegro Air Force does not operate fixed wing aircraft, entire Šipčanik complex was decommissioned and converted to civilian use in early 2000s. Airbase facilities were a frequent target of NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. While military equipment and infrastructure sustained severe damage, airport terminal and runway were not targeted. On 9 December 1999, the airport was a site of a tense standoff between Yugoslav Army and Montenegro security forces, in a culmination of a struggle for control over the airport between Montenegro and federal government. ==Airlines and destinations==

The following airlines serve scheduled and seasonal services to and from Podgorica Airport: ==Statistics==

Passenger traffic Route frequency Busiest routes ==Ground transportation==

Podgorica Airport is accessible by the Podgorica–Bar highway (E65/E80). Section of the highway connecting airport passenger terminal with Podgorica urban area ( long) is a dual carriageway road, and drive from central Podgorica to the airport usually takes less than 15 minutes. Construction of Sozina tunnel in 2006 and Southern Podgorica Bypass in 2021 has significantly shortened travel times between the airport and Montenegro coastal region. Rail access to the airport is possible via Aerodrom train stop on Belgrade–Bar railway. However, it is usually not a convenient option for transfer to central Podgorica, due to distance from the passenger terminal, and irregular train schedule. ==Accidents and incidents==

• On 11 September 1973, Podgorica Airport was the destination of JAT Airways Flight 769, a Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle 6-N, which flew into the Babin Zub peak on Maganik mountain north of Podgorica. All 41 on board perished. • On 25 January 2005, the nosegear of a Montenegro Airlines Fokker 100 (YU-AOM) collapsed after a runway excursion during a night landing in snowy conditions. The airplane skidded for about before coming to rest, after touchdown. Two passengers, the pilot and copilot received minor injuries. 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). • On 7 January 2008, at about 9:30pm, a Montenegro Airlines Fokker 100 (4O-AOK) sustained minor damage while landing at the airport. A routine inspection of the aircraft led to the discovery of a bullet hole in the aircraft tail. The aircraft was carrying 20 passengers, none of which were injured. Gunshot was possibly fired during a celebration of Orthodox Christmas. == See also ==