Airline passenger traffic in Georgia reaches pre-pandemic numbers with 45% y/y increase

Georgia’s three international airports served 2,485,263 passengers between January-June, marking a 45 percent year-on-year increase, the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency said on Wednesday.

Deputy Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili said the figures meant passenger traffic at Georgian airports had reached pre-pandemic numbers. 

We have been able to fully restore passenger flow at Georgian airports to pre-pandemic 2019 [levels] [...] The current situation in terms of growth and improvement of passenger flows at both international and domestic airports [...] contributes to further strengthening of the airline industry in the country, as well as the tourism sector", Kvrivishvili said.

In the reporting period, Georgia’s international airports served the following numbers:

• Tbilisi International Airport - 1,566,251 passengers (+35% y/y)
• Kutaisi International Airport - 667,305 passengers (+103%)
• Batumi International Airport - 236,444 passengers (+9%)

Passenger traffic has been restored with the following percentages compared to the first six months of 2019:

• Tbilisi International Airport - 84%
• Kutaisi International Airport - 83%
• Batumi International Airport - 96%

Statistics also showed all three international airports in the country received 8,556 flights over the six months. The Agency said the number of flights had increased by 29 percent year-on-year and recovered by 90 percent from the pre-pandemic figure.

Local airports also saw an increase in passenger numbers in the six-month period, the body said.

Queen Tamar Airport in Mestia in the north-western Svaneti region served 5,127 passengers in the period - a 60 percent increase year-on-year and a 47 percent recovery from the pre-pandemic figure.

Ambrolauri Airport in western Georgia’s Racha region served 841 passengers, five percent less compared to the same period of 2022 but a 40 percent increase compared to 2019.

Central Georgia’s Natakhtari Airport served 9,295 passengers, posting an 86 percent year-on-year increase and a 170 percent increase from the pre-pandemic figure.

There were 48 airline companies operating in Georgian airports as of July 1, with flights offered  to 88 destinations.