Georgian Civil Aviation Agency: international flights will not resume until August 1

The ban on regular flights may be extended until the end of July due to the rapid increase in the number of new coronavirus cases in neighboring countries, Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava said earlier today. Turnava mentioned that the main task for the Georgian government is to strengthen the gains made in properly managing the epidemiological situation and protecting the population.

Domestic tourism resumes today in Georgia, while the country will open its doors to international tourists on July 1. Railway travel also resumes today. Georgian Railway officials say the company is ready to ensure the safe transportation of passengers and to implement the regulations imposed by the Ministry of Health of Georgia.

The Georgian Civil Aviation Agency has published recommendations for airports, airline companies and passengers about how to carry out flights during the coronavirus pandemic.

Georgia is opening its airspace to international flights starting July 1 and the international airports of the country are making preparations to receive tourists and to ensure their services will be in line with the recommendations of the Ministry of Health of Georgia.

Georgia is on a draft list of countries that will be allowed to enter the European Union starting July 1 when the bloc's international borders are scheduled to open, reports Euronews. 

Two people have tested positive for the COVID-19 in Georgia increasing the total number of confirmed cases to 921. Meanwhile, one infected individual has recovered, bringing the total number recoveries to 781.

Head of the Georgian National Centre for Disease Control Amiran Gamkrelidze said, the 86-year-old Georgian citizen, who suffered from several underlying illnesses, had arrived from one of Georgia’s neighbouring countries.

Georgia has reported just two new cases of the coronavirus earlier today, bringing the total number of cases to 926. 791 of the 926 patients have recovered, while 15 others have died. As of today 120 people remain infected with COVID-19. 2,819 people are under quarantine in the country.Georgia reported its first case of the coronavirus on February 26, 2020.

Exhibitions, training and conferences may be allowed from July 6 in Georgia, Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava has stated earlier today.

Wizz Air has released a statement confirming it will remain in Georgia and continue operating once borders reopen, following rumours that the Hungarian low-cost airline was planning to close its base at Kutaisi International Airport.

The government of Georgia is negotiating with international airlines airBaltic and Air France to resume air travel and regular flights with five EU member states with whom Georgia has unconditionally reopened its borders. 

Georgia is opening its borders for travellers from five countries, announces PM Spokesman Irakli Chikovani after a meeting of the Interagency Coordination Council today. The government of Georgia is also negotiating with international airline companies to resume direct flights in Georgia. So far an agreement has been reached with Lufthansa which will start flights between Munich and Tbilisi starting August. 

The current regulations will be maintained on the land borders of Georgia, says PM Spokesman Irakli Chikovani after announcing today that Georgia is opening its air borders for travelers from Germany, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia.

Restrictions on flights between Tbilisi and three European cities will be removed next week, the government has announced, with connections to Munich, Paris and Riga set to be exempted from the ongoing limits on international travel starting July 13.

Coronavirus-related restrictions on regular international flights have been prolonged in Georgia until October 31, the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency has announced. No restrictions apply to flights carried out between the airports of Tbilisi, Munich, Paris and Riga.

Wizz Air may restore its base in Kutaisi in spring 2021, Economy Minister Natia Turnava said earlier today, noting that aviation companies are assessing the prospect of restoring flights to Georgia in the future, although this will happen gradually.