The national airline, Air Montenegro, has once again entered into a short-term wet lease agreement for an Embraer E190 aircraft with the Ukrainian company, Windrose Airlines.

The aircraft, registered as UR-EMA, arrived in Tivat from the Polish city of Bydgoszcz on February 11 and was integrated into Air Montenegro’s regular flights to Belgrade and Istanbul just four days later.

Management at Air Montenegro confirmed to “Vijesti” that they have signed a new contract with Windrose Airlines to lease the aircraft under the ACMI model (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance). This type of wet lease entails the owner providing the aircraft along with its crew, maintenance, and insurance, while the lessee is responsible for the agreed lease fees and all operational costs. The aircraft is 13 years old and can carry 104 passengers. Air Montenegro has previously leased it twice.

In January, Air Montenegro transported 24,245 passengers, marking a 29 percent increase compared to the same month last year, and operated 26 percent more flights than in January 2024.

The duration of the new lease extends from February 11, 2025, to October 31 of this year, during which the E190 (UR-EMA) is expected to accumulate 1,600 flight hours. This arrangement ensures that Air Montenegro will not have to operate with only a single aircraft throughout 2025, especially during the scheduled maintenance period for their Embraer E195 (4O-AOB) from February 20 to March 20,” the company explained.

They also noted that Windrose Airlines has proven to be a reliable partner, having facilitated safe and efficient operations over the past two years.

“Though Air Montenegro aims to have a fleet comprised of owned or dry-leased aircraft, completely eliminating wet leases is a complicated process, especially after years of relying on wet leases for 50% of the fleet and about 60% of the seat capacity,” clarified Vukadin Stojanović, the company’s CEO.

He previously announced plans for the fleet expansion through a long-term operational lease (dry lease) of an additional Embraer E195 aircraft.

According to unofficial sources, this deal is nearing completion, and another E195 is expected to join Air Montenegro’s fleet within the next few months, likely sourced from Denmark. This aircraft will be leased under a commercial agreement similar to the first two E195 planes operated by the previous national carrier, Montenegro Airlines, under a dry lease from the American company GECAS, which were later acquired by the Government and are currently owned by Air Montenegro.

“We are in the midst of two procedures for the ‘dry lease’ of aircraft to expand our fleet. The first involves verifying the specific aircraft and its documentation to facilitate a smoother airworthiness review process and registration in Montenegro’s aircraft register and our AOC certificate. The second involves coordinating the lease agreement. While we anticipate that this aircraft will join our fleet, we will refrain from sharing additional details until the contract is finalized. What we can confirm is that it is an Embraer E195 that meets European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards and holds an active ARC,” the company stated.

They plan to have this aircraft operational by June 1; however, they emphasized that efforts are underway to facilitate an earlier launch. As it will be leased for multiple years, this aircraft will be branded in Air Montenegro’s colors and will be serviced by the company’s own flight crews, cabin staff, and mechanics.

Future Plans for E2 Aircraft

The national airline also expressed the need to modernize and enhance its fleet in the long run, with a focus on the newer E2 generation of E-series regional jets from the Brazilian manufacturer Embraer. The first-generation E-jets have demonstrated excellent performance in the fleets of both Montenegro Airlines and Air Montenegro since their introduction in 2008.

Air Montenegro is considering the E-jets E2 aircraft, marking the second generation of Embraer’s E-jets. However, due to aircraft availability and allocation, realistic expectations suggest that E2 aircraft may not be incorporated into Air Montenegro’s fleet until 2027 or later. Along with fuel efficiency, several factors justify the introduction of the E2 into their fleet. Acquiring second-generation Embraer aircraft would signify the start of a process to renew the national carrier’s fleet, a critical strategic goal for the company requiring thorough discussions with their owner, the Government of Montenegro,” stated the company.

A few years ago, the E195-E2 aircraft was showcased at Podgorica airport, capturing the interest of the then-Montenegro Airlines.

The E195-E2 is slightly larger than its first-generation counterparts, accommodating between 132 to 146 passengers, with improvements in passenger cabin design, modern avionics, reduced fuel consumption, and enhanced operational efficiency, about 25 percent more than the original E195 models.

The E195-E2 boasts a range of 4,800 kilometers and is positioned as a leading competitor to the Airbus A-220, which Croatia Airlines is currently incorporating into its fleet. According to the Brazilian manufacturer’s data, the E195-E2 offers approximately 10 percent lower operational costs.

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