Turkish Airlines reduces Istanbul-Podgorica flights amid Montenegro visa changes

Turkish Airlines has revised its winter flight schedule for the Istanbul-Podgorica route, reducing the number of weekly flights from 18 to 14. This capacity reduction coincides with Montenegro’s preparations to reintroduce visa requirements for citizens of several countries, including Turkey, Belarus, China, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.

The move by Montenegro is reportedly linked to its ongoing European Union accession process. The new visa regulations are expected to take effect on November 1. The change is anticipated to impact both direct tourism and commercial travel between Turkey and Montenegro, as well as transit passengers traveling between Russia and Montenegro via Istanbul.

This reduction brings flight frequencies back to levels seen in late 2025. Turkish Airlines is also expected to maintain a lower flight frequency compared to the 2026 program through the end of March 2027.