Tivat Airport is handling approximately 20 per cent more passengers than last year, but the increase is exposing the limits of the terminal, ground operations and the surrounding road network.
On peak Sundays, as many as 11,500 passengers can pass through the airport in less than 24 hours.
Flight disruptions on 24 and 25 July created additional crowding and negative public reaction during one of the most important periods of the tourism season.
The airport is the main aviation gateway for Tivat, Kotor, Herceg Novi and much of the Bay of Kotor tourism market. Its performance therefore affects hotel operators, private-accommodation providers, marinas, transfer companies and high-end residential developments across the region.
Passenger growth is positive for the economy, but only where the transport system can absorb it. Long queues, inadequate waiting space and disrupted baggage handling can damage the visitor experience before a tourist reaches the destination.
The problem continues after passengers leave the terminal. Local authorities have identified road congestion, particularly at the entrance to Tivat and along the Adriatic Highway, as the largest operational issue of the summer.
Airport transfers that should take a short period can become prolonged journeys during peak traffic. Employees, residents and commercial deliveries face the same congestion, increasing labour costs and reducing productivity.
The pressure is intensified by the geography of the Bay of Kotor. Road expansion is technically difficult, expensive and environmentally sensitive. Traffic from Tivat Airport combines with local journeys and through-traffic along a limited coastal corridor.
Airport capacity therefore cannot be considered separately from road policy. A larger terminal without improved ground access would shift rather than solve the bottleneck.
Operational improvements could provide short-term relief through better passenger processing, ground handling, traffic management and coordination with airlines. More significant growth will eventually require investment in terminal capacity and regional transport connections.
The economic consequences extend beyond inconvenience. Premium tourists paying high hotel and marina prices expect reliable transfers and professional airport services. Repeated disruption weakens Montenegro’s ability to position the Bay of Kotor as a high-value Mediterranean destination.
Airlines also consider operational reliability when allocating routes and aircraft. Congestion, limited terminal capacity and inadequate ground infrastructure can make schedules more difficult and increase disruption costs.
The debate over Tivat Airport has continued for years, including questions of investment, ownership structure and possible concession arrangements. Regardless of the eventual model, passenger growth has moved faster than infrastructure modernisation.
The latest figures show that demand is no longer the central uncertainty. Tivat is attracting more travellers, and local hotels are recording strong growth. The constraint is the physical system required to move those travellers efficiently between aircraft, accommodation and the wider coastal region.
