Tbilisi International Airport renamed after famous Georgian poet
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Tbilisi International Airport has been given a new name in honour of one of the country’s greatest poets and contributors to Georgian literature.
Yesterday 30 members of Tbilisi City Council voted in favour to name Tbilisi International Airport after famous historical writer Shota Rustaveli.
Shota Rustaveli was a Georgian poet who lived in the 12th-13thcentury. He is an author of The Knight in the Panther's Skin, a Georgian medieval epic poem consisting of 1,600 quatrains.
The idea to rename Tbilisi International Airport after the famous writer came from Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.
"Next year there will be a celebration of the 850th anniversary of Rustaveli’s birth and I think such an honour would be appropriate,” Garibashvili said.
He noted in recent years Tbilisi International Airport had adopted the informal name Novo Alekseevka, which was the name of a small village near the airport territory.
Meanwhile, Shota Rustaveli’s name has been given to several landmarks in Georgia’s capital, including the main street and a Metro station. Additionally, many other streets and facilities are also named after Shota Rustaveli nationwide.
The main runway at Tbilisi International Airport will soon undergo major repairs to make sure it meets international standards.
Tbilisi International Airport has been named as one of the best Airports in Eastern Europe by Skytrax World Airport Awards, the most prestigious accolades for the world airport industry.
Batumi International Airport will soon bear the name of famous late Georgian aircraft designer Alexander Kartveli in honour of his contribution to the aviation industry.
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