United Airports of Georgia CEO says body aiming to establish Georgia as “leading player in Europe’s airline market”

Irakli Karkashadze, the CEO of the United Airports of Georgia, has highlighted the country’s “rapidly growing” airline market and the body’s “ambition” to establish it as a “leading player in Europe”, the UAG said on Wednesday.

Addressing the 28th Annual North America/Central Europe Airport Issues Conference in Athens last week, Karkashadze spoke about infrastructural developments planned for Georgian airports.

One of the key developments mentioned was the expansion of Kutaisi International Airport in the country’s west, alongside the ongoing construction of the new Tbilisi International Airport in the capital city, aimed for completion by 2029.

Nearly all major European airlines operate at our airports, allowing us to anticipate a record number of passengers - up to seven million - by the end of the year. Our goal is for the new international airport in Tbilisi to become a regional airline hub in the future, competing effectively for transit passengers as well”, he said.

We have made significant progress in the development of Kutaisi Airport, the second-largest airport in the country. We have begun constructing a new 3.5-km runway, which will allow us to accommodate and service large aircraft without any restrictions. To further our development and expansion, it is crucial for us to introduce innovations and technologies at our airports, as well as to collaborate with larger international airports to exchange news and ideas in this area”, Karkashadze added.

The official also highlighted Georgia’s advancements in airport security, citing recognition from the International Civil Aviation Organisation for the country’s leadership in aviation safety within the wider region.