Montenegrin tour operator eyes Adria Airways’ brand

Oki Air, a tour operator based in Podgorica, Montenegro, is interested in buying the brand of defunct Slovenian carrier Adria Airways (JP, Ljubljana), media across the Balkan region have reported. The Montenegrin company reportedly expressed its interest in a letter to the former flag carrier’s bankruptcy trustee in September. Founded in April 1993, Oki Air is also a ground handling provider at Podgorica and Belgrade airports and a local General Sales Agent (GSA) to Croatia Airlines (OU, Zagreb) and Montenegro Airlines (YM, Podgorica), according to its website. It also once represented Adria in the Balkan markets. In addition, it has operated in the past as a charter carrier, operating from Podgorica to destinations such as Bari, Ljubljana, and Skopje, according to local reports. It does not have an Air Operator’s Certificate in Montenegro. Adria Airways’ trustee has already tried unsuccessfully to sell the brand in an initial tender for EUR100,000 euros (USD117,000), but no interested parties came forward. For a second attempt, dropping the price to EUR50,000 (USD58,500), potential buyers had until September 28 to submit their bids, the tender document dated July 23 specified, but no winner has officially yet been announced. In January, Air Adriatic (Slovenia) (Ljubljana), a start-up founded by Slovenian entrepreneur Izet Rastoder, acquired Adria Airways’ permits and licences including its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) for a reported EUR45,000 (USD49,700 at the time). In late September, the Slovenian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) extended the validity of the AOC to March 31, 2021, to give more time for a possible relaunch. Adria Airways ceased operations on September 30, 2019.