Novosibirsk – eighth Russian city where Georgia will perform flights

Georgian Airways is starting multiple charter flights to Russia. Georgia’s national carrier will link capital Tbilisi to Russia’s third largest city Novosibirsk from June 14.

Novosibirsk is the eighth Russian city where flights will be carried out from Georgia, announced Georgia’s Ministry of Economy.

Negotiations to resume a flight service between the two countries resulted in Georgian Airways being allowed to perform flights to seven Russian cities two months ago.

Now after two weeks intensive consultations based on Georgian Airways’ request, Russia’s aviation authorities agreed on Tbilisi- Novosibirsk multiple charter flights.

The flights will be performed once per week.

Novosibirsk is the fourth Russian destination for Georgian Airways, after Moscow, Samara and St Petersburg.

Starting directs flights to Russia saw Georgian Airways break a seven-year stalemate with Russia. Flights were cancelled in 2008 when Russia and Georgia clashed in a war and afterwards Tbilisi cut all diplomatic ties with Moscow.

The other seven cities which Georgian Airways flies to are Moscow, St Petersburg, Samara, Yekaterinburg, Sochi, Rostov and Mineralnye Vody (Minvody). 

Meanwhile, the number of travellers going between Georgia and Russia is on an upward trend.

Georgia's Ministry of Economy noted the number of air travellers between Georgia and its largest neighbour had increased by 65 percent in January-May 2015 compared to the same time of 2014.

Looking ahead, Georgia expected more passengers to travel on the Tbilisi-Moscow route.

In the first five months of this year, airline companies from the both countries transported 87,367 passengers. This number was a significant increase on the 53,091 passengers transported in the first five months of 2014.

Currently four airlines carry out direct flights between Tbilisi and Moscow; one of which is Georgia’s national carrier Georgian Airways.