Georgia Says Breakaway Sokhumi Airport Cannot Launch Int'l Flights
The Georgian Civil Aviation Agency (GCAA) reports that international air traffic will not be launched at breakaway Sokhumi Airport in occupied Abkhazia, without Georgia's permission.
The agency made the statement in response to information released in Russian media that a Russian investor is carrying out works in the airport of breakaway Sokhumi, airport, which will be completed at the end of August.
“No airline will be able to operate in the international airspace at Sokhumi Airport until Georgia says so, and supervision over the safety of flights will not be provided by the Georgian side,” the agency says.
GCAA says any air operation at Sokhumi Airport without the prior approval of the GCAA is prohibited.
“Any air company starting flight operations to Sokhumi will be in breach of International Civil Aviation Rules, as well as the Georgian Law on Occupied Territories, which will create grave complications for the air company in operating further in international and Georgian destinations,” the agency stated.
The statement also reads that Sokhumi Airport has been restricted by Georgian Authorities since 1993, adding the mentioned airport is not certified by the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency.
“Furthermore, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) supports Georgia’s territorial integrity and recognizes Abkhazia as an integral part of Georgia,” the agency says.
The GCAA went on to explain that Sokhumi Airport has not been assigned an ICAO Airport four-letter location indicator code by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
“It is prohibited to use aerodromes on Georgian territory for civil aviation purposes unless the latter holds a valid Aerodrome Operator Certificate, issued by the Civil Aviation Agency of Georgia. Issuance, prolongation, limitation and restriction of the validity of Aerodrome Operator Certificates, as well as continuous surveillance over the activities of aerodrome operators, is carried out by the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency,” the statement added.
RIA Novosti news agency announced that "a Russian investor is now carrying out project works at the Abkhazian airport, which will be complete by the end of next month."
In addition to this, occupied Abkhazian media said the de facto cabinet of Abkhazia has adopted a document about the status of Sokhumi Airport and the use of Abkhazia's airspace.
The package of documents envisages "granting a joint airfield base status to Sokhumi Airport, which will allow the civil and state airspace to be used in the airdrome.”
“There will be civil aviation as well as state aviation - military aviation, emergency situations and sanitary aviation," said the de facto Prime Minister of occupied Abkhazia, Valery Bganba.
The same information says Sokhumi Airport was awarded international code URAS. The documents indicate that the opening of Sokhumi International Airport will facilitate the development of air traffic, tourism and economy in occupied Abkhazia for regular international air transportation and international flights.
The Sokhumi Airport, built in the 1960s, was located in Babushera settlement, 18 kilometers from the city, which was closed in 1993 after the war in Abkhazia.
An agreement between breakaway Sokhumi and Moscow was signed in 2014 which envisaged cooperation for the reconstruction of Sokhumi Airport, with no further news until now.
By Thea Morrison
Image source: wikimapia