Minister of Transport Nurković: Turkish-based TAV Airport Holdings interested in airports in Podgorica and TIvat

Skopje, Republic of Macedonia (17 October 2017) -- Turkish-based TAV Airport Holdings, which operates 17 airports on 3 continents, is familiar with the plans of the Montenegrin Government to make the best use of the country's airports and is interested in entering Montenegro, today's meeting between Minister of Transport and Maritime Affairs Osman Nurković and TAV representatives concluded.

Coordinator of the TAV Airport Holding Company Girraj Kolappan and Member of the Board of Directors of TAV Zoran Krstevski voiced willingness to come to Montenegro and start talks with representatives of the Government about the models of valorisation of the airports in Podgorica and Tivat.

TAV representatives informed Minister Nurković about the company's activities, stating that they operate, inter alia, airports in Skopje and Ohrid, as well as Franjo Tudjman Airport in Zagreb, in cooperation with the French companies.

TAV acquired the Aleksandar Veliki Airport in Skopje in 2012 with a concession for 30 years. A total of EUR 110 million was invested in Skopje Airport and EUR 10 million in Ohrid Airport. During the takeover, the Skopje Airport had a turnover of 600,000 passengers per year and flew to 12 destinations, and now it has two million passengers per year with 37 destinations. The annual growth is 15%, said the TAV representatives. They added that the world standard that the increase in the number of passengers by a million brings direct creation of 1,000 new jobs, and, indirectly, 1,000 new jobs in services, has been achieved. Also in this case, the increase in the entry of the Turkish companies on the Macedonian market has been recorded as well.

Minister Nurković said that he had the opportunity to get acquainted with the work of the former Skopje airport, and that this cannot be compared with what is the Aleksandar Makedonski Airport today.

"I am delighted with what has been done at the airport in Skopje," said Minister Nurković, hopeful that he will soon meet with the TAV representatives in Montenegro.

TAV is the world's leading traveller and it is building a new airport in Havana at the moment.

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO