Against the backdrop of a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Georgia’s largest airline, Georgian Airways, is launching transit flights for Russians via Tbilisi to Europe.
This was stated by the founder of the airline Tamaz Dayashvili, noting that the airline plans five European cities: Milan, Paris, Vienna, Larnaca, and Thessaloniki, reports RTVI.
“We will start from June 15. Let’s see how this will go. But we think that there will be sufficient demand for these routes. It will be more convenient and faster through Tbilisi than on other routes,” said Daiashvili, noting that according to the forecasts of Georgian Airways, the passenger flow between Russia and Georgia will gradually resume.
“Naturally, we will maintain air communication with Russia. Nothing will happen to this. The government of Georgia welcomed this decision very warmly. May God grant that it will never be interrupted again,” he added.
Air connections between Georgia and Russia
The ban on flights of Russian airlines to Georgia has been in effect since 2019. It was filmed on May 15, 2023.
The Russian airline “Azimut” and Georgian Georgian Airways received permission to resume flights. The visa regime for citizens of Georgia was canceled by the Russian side.
On May 19, 2023, Georgia issued a flight permit to a Russian airline flying to Crimea.
The first flight from Russia caused mass protests in Georgia. Law enforcement officers detained some of the rally participants, but Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili sided with the protesters. She announced a boycott of the local airline Georgian Airways.
On May 12, 2023, Georgian Airways declared the President of Georgia persona non grata. The head of the board of directors demands an apology from Zurabishvili.