Passenger Traffic in Georgian Airports Increases by 21%
The Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia has published data on passenger traffic at all airports in Georgia according to which, during the first five months of 2016, the number of passengers was 831590, 21 percent more than last year. Following this announcement, United Airports of Georgia announced a tender to construct a new airport in Zugdidi, western Georgia, that in the future aims to increase the total number of tourists throughout the country.
Batumi International Airport shows the highest rates of passenger traffic – 54,429 passengers, 32 percent more since the beginning of 2016 year on year. These numbers were reached thanks to this year’s addition of several new airlines to the Georgian market which opened direct flights to Batumi, bypassing Tbilisi. Among them is Ural Airlines (from Ekaterinburg and Saint Petersburg). Air Arabia and El Al Israel Airlines, which will connect Batumi to Sharjah and Tel Aviv respectively, will start operation this summer. Taban Air also plans to launch a regular charter flight from Tehran in the near future.
In general, Batumi International Airport plans to receive 11 airlines from 12 different directions throughout the 2016 summer season.
The David Agmashenebeli International Airport of Kutaisi also showed high indicators, with passenger traffic increasing by 20 percent and amounting to 73,851 persons. Ukraine International Airlines in late May increased the number of flights between Kiev and Kutaisi from three to four, and then started flying every day from June 4. A further increase in passenger traffic is expected after the opening of WizzAir’s new flights to Berlin, Dortmund, Munich, Milan, Thessaloniki, Sofia and Larnaca from September.
The Shota Rustaveli International Airport of Tbilisi has also seen a 20 percent increase in passenger traffic, with 703310 passengers. During the summer season, the airport expects to receive 30 airlines flying to 27 different destinations.
Capital Airport has been offering flights to Tehran via Ata Airlines and Keshm Air since March this year. Moreover, El Al Israel Airlines and Taban Airlines will connect Tel Aviv and Tehran as well as Isfahan with Tbilisi from June 2016.
Queen Tamar Airport in Mestia town, Georgia’s smallest airport located in the Svaneti region of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti province, which is only used for local transportation, showed a 17 percent increase in passenger traffic with 1,197 passengers.
The United Airports of Georgia announcement of a tender for the construction of an airport in Georgia's western town Zugdidi, to become the fifth in the country, reveals an expected investment of around USD 257,255 (550,000 GEL) with the aim of having the airport operational within two years. The tender is open for all interested companies who should contact United Airports of Georgia by June 21, 2016.
The winning company should build and operate a new airport in Zugdidi, which includes new aerodrome, runway, aircraft parking spaces, a terminal and other necessary infrastructure construction, as well as it taking on responsibility for operating local and international flights. It should also accommodate at least 50 passengers, including people with disabilities, and there must be car parking spaces for at least 30 vehicles.
Eka Karsaulidze