United Airports of Georgia Director says new Kutaisi Airport runway marks “new stage” for country’s airline market

Irakli Karkashadze, the Director of the United Airports of Georgia, on Friday said the project for a new 3.5-km-long runway at Kutaisi International Airport in the country's west marked a “new stage” in both the history of the facility and the domestic airline market.

Karkashadze made the comment as the foundation was laid for the construction of the runway and related infrastructure at the venue, saying “such crucial infrastructure” was being developed “for the first time in the history of Georgia's independence”.

He added the project value was “unprecedentedly large” at up to ₾240 million ($88 mln), ₾40 million ($14 mln) higher than the total capital expenditures at the Airport between 2012-2024. 

He also said “major infrastructure” projects were being carried out simultaneously at four of Georgia's six airports, adding the initiatives included the construction of new terminals in the city of Telavi in Georgia’s eastern Kakheti region and north-western highland town of Mestia in Svaneti region.

With the new infrastructure, the Airport aims to accommodate up to five million passengers annually, with Karkashadze noting the country’s airline sector had a “stable growth, leading to the entry of multiple world-class airlines into our airports”.

Once finished, the Airport will be the only airport in Georgia equipped to receive large aircraft without restrictions. Currently, the facility operates under code D, with a runway length of 2.5 km, sufficient for medium-sized aircraft.