Fly Victor, Montenegro – The View from Above
Fly Victor, an on-demand private jet charter company, dissects the reasons behind Montenegro’s surge in demand among luxury travellers…
With a population of just 620,000, Montenegro is smaller than some individual boroughs of London. However, despite its modest size, this picturesque nation has grand ambitions to establish itself as a premier hub for superyachts and private jets in the Mediterranean.
Fly Victor, an on-demand private jet charter company with offices in London, Washington DC, and Abu Dhabi, is witnessing a substantial increase in requests for flights to Montenegro. This surge in interest underscores the country’s growing appeal among Europe’s most discerning travellers, who are drawn to its stunning coastline, luxury amenities, and unique aesthetic.
Why Are People Visiting?
According to the latest Knight Frank Wealth Report, Montenegro’s ultra-high-net-worth population is set to increase by 36 per cent between 2019 and the end of 2024. This growing interest is reflected in the country’s tourism figures, with arrivals nearly doubling from 1.19 million in 2011 to 2.34 million in 2021. This substantial increase in tourism has bolstered the country’s economy, making it one of the fastest-growing sectors.
Montenegro boasts five national parks, a spectacular mountain range, and an enviable Adriatic Riviera. More importantly, it provides respite from the monotony and crowds of similar environments in the Western Mediterranean.
Beyond the mainland, seven beautiful river islands dot the bay, and the islet of Stefi Stefan is renowned for its quaint citadel and olive groves, now converted into a luxurious private resort and spa. Montenegro also features numerous idyllic pebbled coves and sandy beaches—some secluded, others hosting sophisticated beach clubs with music.
How Are People Getting There?
Tivat Airport, located on the Adriatic coast, is the gateway to the Bay of Kotor and the riviera. Private jets can operate between 06:30 am and sunset, around 08:30 pm local time during the summer. While the airport lacks a General Aviation Terminal, private passengers are typically escorted through the main terminal to avoid queuing.
Podgorica Airport, in the country’s capital, has proved less popular for Victor clients, but still offers easy access to the surrounding mountains and lakes. In April last year, it was reported that two businesses, based in Germany and the US, would sign a Memorandum of Cooperation with Montenegro to invest €75 million in overhauling Berane airport, located in the eastern part of the country. However, there have been few significant developments since then.
Fly Victor prioritises newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft, and remains the only private jet charter company that discloses the estimated fuel burn of a trip before booking. The company highlights the most fuel-efficient options within quotes and provides real images of the aircraft to guide clients towards the best choices. This is reflected in the kind of aircraft that Victor clients are choosing to charter when they fly to destinations such as Montenegro.
Light and Super Light Jets, which accommodate up to 8 passengers, are ideal for short-haul trips (up to 3 hours) for small groups, making them very popular with Fly Victor’s European clients. These aircraft are frequently chartered for weekend getaways and trips to Mediterranean destinations like Montenegro.
Last year, prices for Light and Super Light Jets were at an all-time high, with the average hourly rate for a Light Jet surpassing that of a Super Light Jet in 2019. This year, there has been a 10% average price decrease for Light Jets and a 7% decrease for Super Light Jets in Q1 2024 compared to the previous year. Making them an even more desirable aircraft class for the typical private flyer to Montenegro.
Within this category, the popularity of the Pilatus PC-24 model has skyrocketed, replacing older models such as the Citation CJ2 and Hawker 400 XP. So far this year, the Pilatus PC-24 has seen a 70% increase in popularity, and the Citation XLS a 35% increase, compared to the same period in 2023.
What Are People Doing in Montenegro?
In 2007, a Canadian billionaire, tired of the overcrowded and expensive ports of France, Italy, and Greece, purchased a former Yugoslavian military port and transformed it into the luxurious Porto Montenegro. This new yacht hub triggered a wave of investment, leading to the development of other luxury marinas along the coastline. Yachting enthusiasts can now enjoy the impressive Portonovi and the glamorous Lustica Bay, which features its own golf course.
Although Montenegro’s coastline stretches less than 300 km, its charm lies in its compactness and beauty. In just one week, you can sail from Kotor to Ulcinj, near the Albanian border, and return, all while enjoying ample opportunities for sightseeing and swimming. This is the essence of Montenegro — planning your route is effortless. Just follow the mainland, select the harbours you wish to visit, and you’ll be rewarded with romantic town streets and stunning beaches along the coast.
For this reason Victor has partnered with Fraser Yachts – who boast a range of vessels in the region. As a Victor member, you’ll earn double Alto points every time you book one of their yachts through us, redeemable against the cost of a future flight or any luxury bookings in our network.
End-to-End Luxury Experiences
Recognising the demand for a trusted end-to-end service, Victor recently set up private aviations first loyalty points programme with a network of luxury partners. Members can now use the Alto programme like any other concierge service, booking hotels, yachts, products, and services within the Alto partner collective and earning Alto points for these bookings. You collect Alto points whenever you fly with us or book any of our Alto partners. You don’t need to book an accompanying flight to purchase any of our Alto partner services or use the concierge service. Once you have collected a minimum of 10,000 points, you can spend them on a flight or a booking with our Alto partner network.
Elena Enotiades, Head of Partnerships at Victor, says: “HNWIs are continuously seeking value on their products and services – particularly in the current economic climate. We have seen Alto point redemption increase from 60% to 80% over the past year. By significantly upgrading our Alto loyalty programme, customers are getting tangible value in return – even if they’re in a position to spend thousands on flying private.”
Unlike other concierge services in the luxury market, Victor membership has no joining fees, and the Alto programme is available to all, simply by registering on Victor’s platform. Alto rewards members with one point for every one USD spent, and points can be used once a minimum of 10,000 have been collected. Through Alto, Victor members can access over 1,000 hotels and villas, alongside a selection of 50,000 ticketed events and premium goods.
Whether it’s reducing the cost of a jet charter from London to Nice by 20%, using the points to secure tickets to a Formula 1 Grand Prix, or reducing the room rate at the Mandarin Oriental London, Victor members have the flexibility to spend their points as they choose within the Alto network. So far, Alto members have accrued over 311,000,000 Alto points and saved over $2,339,000 collectively. Enotiades continues: “Over 80% of Victor’s HNW customers choose to arrange their own jet charter themselves, rather than having it handled by their PA. Therefore, offering additional products and services through Alto facilitates a seamless end-to-end service with one point of contact for them.”
“Our customers tend to use their Alto points on the most high-end products and experiences. This past summer alone, we’ve successfully organised 50-metre yacht charters, exclusive six-figure ticketed events, and luxurious week-long villa rentals around the globe. The trust our clients place in us for their jet charter extends to our partnerships, ensuring they can expect an equally gratifying experience with our esteemed partners.”
Why People Are Choosing Victor?
Transparency is one of the unwavering pillars of our business practice. It is also what 77% of our customers said they valued most about our service. Other private jet brokers are not always forthcoming with important information such as which aircraft operator will be trusted to deliver your flight and the tail number that identifies the specific aircraft they are offering, often keeping customers completely out of the loop.
At Victor, we go the extra mile by offering detailed insights about the operator and the exact aircraft you’ll be flying with, alongside the estimated fuel burn for your trip. We also offer Sustainable Aviation Fuel for every booking, regardless of operator or departure airport. After completing a SAF purchase, Victor customers will receive a certificate from Neste, confirming the total carbon emission reduction.
Furthermore, Victor collates detailed client feedback from all flights, including ratings for the operator’s aircraft condition and onboard experience. This information enables us to pass these Client Preferred Operator insights over to you, guiding you to the best-performing and most trusted operators in the market for your private jet charter.
For more information about flying privately to Montenegro you can email Victor at: [email protected]
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