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Flights to Montenegro: delays, cancellations and your rights

Montenegro has two international airports, the capital Podgorica and Tivat on the coast; Podgorica was the busier in Eurostat’s 2024 data on routes within Europe. Flights to Montenegro from the EU, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland or the UK are covered by EU261 or UK261 whatever the airline; flights from Montenegro are covered by EU261 only when they land in the EU, Norway, Iceland or Switzerland on an airline licensed in one of those countries, and by UK261 only when they land in the UK on a UK or EU airline (in both cases not if you received benefits or compensation and assistance under local rules). Montenegrin law sets its own complaint rules for denied boarding, cancellations and delays.

By the EU261 Flight Delay editorial team Last reviewed: How we write our guides

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In short: Flying to Montenegro from elsewhere in Europe, a delay of 3 hours or more is worth €250–€400 per passenger on typical routes (EU261, any airline); from the UK £220 under UK261. On the way home you are covered only on an EU airline (into the EU) or a UK or EU airline (into the UK). Local rules may help on airlines from there.

Your rights each way

DirectionRulesCovered airlines3h+ delay / late cancellation
Another EU/EEA country or Switzerland → MontenegroEU261any airline€250–€400
Montenegro → another EU/EEA country or SwitzerlandEU261only an EU airline€250–€400
UK → MontenegroUK261any airline£220
Montenegro → UKUK261only a UK or EU airline£220
Outside Europe → Montenegronone––

Amounts are per passenger and depend on the great-circle distance between your airports – the ranges cover the busiest routes. Whatever the cause, from 2 hours’ delay the airline must provide meals and drinks, and a hotel if you are stuck overnight – where EU261 or UK261 applies.

Local rules: Passenger rights in Montenegro are set by the Law on Obligations and the Basics of Property Relations in Air Transport (Official Gazette 18/2011, amended in 2014, 2018 and 2025). Under the 2025 amendment, a passenger must complain in writing to the airline about denied boarding, a cancellation or a delay within 90 days, and the airline must decide within 60 days. If it does not decide, the passenger can report the breach to the Civil Aviation Agency; if it rejects the complaint, the passenger can go to court.

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How late did you arrive at your final destination?

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How many passengers were on the booking?

1 passenger

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Airports in Montenegro

AirportPassengers 2024*ATFM delay per arrival 2025Main cause
Podgorica (TGD)1,553,8620.01 minequipment (ATC) (100%)
Tivat (TIV)669,815––

* Passengers on routes reported to Eurostat (both directions).

Busiest European routes

Why flights to Montenegro are delayed

In 2025, air traffic flow restrictions held back arrivals at Montenegro’s airports by 0.01 minutes per flight on average (EUROCONTROL, 1 airports). The worst month was Oct.

Causes of air traffic flow delay (2025)

  • equipment (ATC)100%

Average ATFM delay per arrival by month (min)

  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Weather and air traffic control restrictions are usually extraordinary circumstances – but the airline must show they caused your delay. Check what happened on your travel day.

Strikes

No strikes affecting flights in Montenegro are announced in our calendar at the moment.

Strike calendar

Where to complain

  1. The airline first – in writing, with your booking reference. Use our complaint letter generator.
  2. Authority: Civil Aviation Agency of Montenegro (Agencija za civilno vazduhoplovstvo) – Passenger complaint form on its passenger-rights page..
  3. From the UK: if you flew from a UK airport or with a UK airline, you can also use UK ADR, the CAA or the small claims court.

Tips for flying to Montenegro

  • Send your written complaint to the airline within 90 days – Montenegrin law makes this the first step.
  • Both Tivat and Podgorica had almost no arrival flow-control delay in EUROCONTROL’s 2025 data, so if your flight was badly delayed, ask the airline in writing for the specific reason.
  • Montenegro has been a party to the Montreal Convention 1999 since 2010.

Frequently asked questions

Am I covered on a flight to Montenegro?

From anywhere in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, yes: EU261 covers every departing flight, whatever the airline – €250–€400 per passenger on typical routes if you arrive 3 hours or more late. From the UK, UK261 covers every departing flight (£220). From outside Europe you are covered by neither rule.

Am I covered on the flight home from Montenegro?

Flights from Montenegro into the EU are covered by EU261 only on an EU airline, and into the UK by UK261 only on a UK or EU airline. With a Montenegro airline you are not covered by EU261 or UK261.

Passenger rights in Montenegro are set by the Law on Obligations and the Basics of Property Relations in Air Transport (Official Gazette 18/2011, amended in 2014, 2018 and 2025). Under the 2025 amendment, a passenger must complain in writing to the airline about denied boarding, a cancellation or a delay within 90 days, and the airline must decide within 60 days. If it does not decide, the passenger can report the breach to the Civil Aviation Agency; if it rejects the complaint, the passenger can go to court.

Who enforces passenger rights in Montenegro?

Civil Aviation Agency of Montenegro (Agencija za civilno vazduhoplovstvo) – Passenger complaint form on its passenger-rights page.. Complain to the airline first; if it rejects you or does not answer, you can turn to this body. All national enforcement bodies.

Are strikes covered?

It depends whose staff are on strike. Air traffic control or airport strikes are usually extraordinary circumstances; strikes by the airline’s own staff are not (CJEU C-28/20). See strikes and compensation.

Data: Eurostat 2024, EUROCONTROL, UK Civil Aviation Authority 2025. Information only, not legal advice.

Sources

  1. Prava putnika – Agencija za civilno vazduhoplovstvo
  2. Amendment to the Law on Obligations and Basics of Property Relations in Air Transport (2025) – Službeni list Crne Gore
  3. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 as it applies in the UK (UK261) – Article 3, scope – legislation.gov.uk
  4. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 – full text (Article 3: scope; recital 15: air traffic management decisions) – EUR-Lex
  5. Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air (Montreal, 1999) – list of parties – ICAO
  6. UK flight punctuality statistics 2025 (flights by destination from UK airports) – UK Civil Aviation Authority
  7. Airport arrival ATFM (flow-control) delay data, 2024–2025 – EUROCONTROL Aviation Intelligence Unit
  8. Air passenger transport by reporting airport (avia_par), 2024 – Eurostat
  9. Eurostat – air passenger transport routes between partner airports and main airports (2024) – Eurostat
  10. EUROCONTROL – airport arrival ATFM delays (open performance data) – EUROCONTROL
  11. UK flight punctuality statistics 2025 – UK Civil Aviation Authority

We check every rule against the sources above. Spotted an error? Tell us – see our editorial policy.