Local airline company, Georgian airport operator dispute 9 million GEL debt

A disagreement between TAV Georgia, the sole operator of Tbilisi and Batumi International Airports and local airline company Georgian Airways continues.

TAV Georgia released a statement today that Georgian Airways faces a debt exceeding over 9 million GEL (about $3.36m/€2.99m) and the airline company refuses to fulfill the financial liabilities in spite of the fact that TAV Georgia set up a payment schedule for the company.

If Georgian Airways does not fulfill its financial obligations, TAV Georgia will be forced to restrict the possibility of using the airport services and infrastructure for the company. Despite advance warnings from TAV Georgia, Georgian Airways still refuses to comply with the interests of its passengers and address its financial liabilities”, read the statement of TAV Georgia.

Earlier on March 7 Georgian Airways released a statement in which the company accused TAV Georgia of not allowing the airline company to perform flights from Tbilisi International Airport and of demanding “non-existing debts, the only purpose of which is to rob the airline company and the passengers”.

Such taxes as TAV Georgia imposed do not exist in any other airport in Europe. The management of Georgian Airways believes that it is impossible to operate and to develop Georgian aviation under the management of TAV Georgia. It takes a net profit of more than 400 million GEL out of Georgia per year; in return we have the worst airport in the region and in Batumi airport there are unbearable conditions”, read the company statement.

Georgian Airways stated that TAV Georgia refuses to reduce the fee and Georgian aviation suffers more and more damages.

TAV Georgia started operation in Georgia in 2005 and based on a deal with the government of Georgia will continue its activity until 2027.