Montenegro Airlines (Podgorica) plans to replace its current Learjet 45 with another of the same type, despite the growing complexity and cost of securing parts for the out-of-production executive jet.
4O-MNE (msn 45-044) was last operated for the government on July 29, 2024, flying from Podgorica to Paris Le Bourget and return. It was subsequently ferried to Nuremberg for maintenance at Aero-Dienst's facilities on August 8 and remains parked there awaiting the replacement of one of its Honeywell Aerospace TFE731 engines.
According to a memorandum that the general-secretariat of the government of Montenegro presented during a November 1 cabinet session, the maintenance will take one or two more months.
The government acknowledged that while the type was "very good for servicing the needs of the government," 4O-MNE was becoming increasingly difficult and costly to maintain due to frequent issues. Even though the Learjet 45 has been out of production since 2007 and parts have not been manufactured since 2014, the government believes that procuring a newer unit of the same type is still the best course of action.
The government would trade back 4O-MNE as part of the proposed transaction. Based on Aero-Dienst's appraisal conducted in October 2023, the aircraft's fair market value is around USD2.5 million. The 25.1-year-old aircraft has 10,500 flight hours.
The Learjet 45 is the only executive aircraft operated by the government of Montenegro.
