Georgian airline to start direct flights to Sochi

Georgian airline company Airzena has announced plans to offer direct flights from Tbilisi to Sochi, Russia.

The direct flights from Tbilisi to the host city of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games will operate from February 4 - three days before the Olympic Games are due to begin, Airzena officials announced.

"There was a request from Georgians who live in Sochi to launch a direct passenger flight between the two cities. It has taken many difficult negotiations to gain the appropriate permission to enable this flight, Airzenas Board Chairman Tamaz Gaiashvili said.

Russia has given permission to begin charter flights due to the Sochi Olympic Games, he said.

The direct flights will take off twice a week and will continue through the 2014 Spring-Summer season. The initial price for one way tickets will be $120 USD.

In January 2010, airspace between Russia and Georgia reopened and the first direct passenger flight between the two countries took place following the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia over the South Ossetia, a breakaway region of Georgia.

Moscow has not yet permitted a regular, timetable of scheduled flights.