Traffic growth rates climb at airports in Georgia

Batumi Airport with 47.1% YOY growth has become Georgia’s leader (Photo by TAV Georgia)

In the first half of the year Georgian airports served 1.083 million passengers, up 21.3% from the same period last year, according to the country’s Civil Aviation Agency. The growth rates this year are significantly higher than in the previous periods. In the first half of 2015 the figure was just 4.3%, and 12.6% at the end of the year.

The traffic throughout the first six months of 2016 grew in all three of Georgia’s international airports. Tbilisi served 893,200 passengers, up 19.2% YOY, Batumi served 92,700 passengers, up 47.1% and Kutaisi – 95,400 passengers, up 21%. Regional Queen Tamara airport in Mestia town welcomed 1,500 passengers, 7.3% more than in the same period last year.

International traffic growth, which started last year, has continued and gained momentum. Greece (up 155% to 16,100 passengers ), Israel (up 87% to 65,800 passengers) and the United Arab Emirates (up 78% to 46,100 passengers) were the most popular destinations that showed most growth.

Notably, the connection between Georgia and Russia has also been flourishing with 129,700 passengers having traveled the routes from January to June this year, up 56% YOY. Georgian aviation authorities explained the growth by increasing interest of Russian tourists to resort destinations in the Caucasus.

Traffic between Georgia and Ukraine climbed 28% to 105,800 passengers.