Tbilisi and Batumi Airports Reach Historic Passenger Traffic High in 2025

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By December 14, 2025, Tbilisi and Batumi airports had handled more than 6.34 million passengers, with traffic expected to rise to 6.6 million by early January, BM.ge reports. The results reflect not only a recovery in the aviation sector but also a significant outperformance of long-term averages, alongside an expansion of the country’s route network.

Record figures

TAV Georgia CEO Tea Zakaradze noted that both airports reached historic levels. Passenger traffic at Tbilisi Airport exceeded 5 million for the first time, while Batumi Airport passed the 1-million mark in October. These milestones represent key benchmarks for Georgia’s aviation industry.

Record daily figures were also recorded during the year. The busiest day in the history of the capital’s airport was August 12, when 21,959 passengers were served and 97 flights operated within 24 hours. In Adjara, peak figures were recorded on August 24 — 8,446 passengers and 35 flights, respectively.

In Tbilisi, traffic increased by 13% year on year and by 45% compared with the pre-pandemic period. In Batumi, annual growth reached 30%, while passenger traffic was 96% higher than in 2019, a result TAV Georgia described as unprecedented. According to 2025 data, the two airports are served by 61 airlines operating 67 routes. Over the year, eight new carriers entered the Georgian market, including Air Serbia, British Airways, EasyJet, Edelweiss, Transavia France, Vision Air, Fly Khiva and Air Samarkand, supporting greater international connectivity and further passenger growth.

Eleven-month results

Earlier, Georgia’s Ministry of Economy reported that over the first 11 months of 2025, passenger traffic at Georgian airports exceeded 7.8 million, up 14% year on year from 6.9 million in the same period of 2024. As a result, total traffic came close to the 8-million mark, setting a record for the entire observation period.

Growth was accompanied by increased operational activity: 26,855 scheduled and 8,250 charter flights were operated, bringing the total number of flights to 35,105. This represents an 18% increase compared with last year’s figure of 29,871. By passenger numbers, Wizz Air led the market with 1,309,716 passengers, equivalent to a 17% share. Other major carriers included Georgian Airways with an 8% share, as well as Pegasus and Turkish Airlines at around 7% each. Cargo air transport remains an additional growth driver, with volumes rising by 49% to 33,924,485 tonnes over the period.

Between January and September, Tbilisi Airport served 4,981,865 passengers, increasing traffic by 13% year on year. Kutaisi handled 1,692,513 passengers (+7%). The fastest growth was recorded in Batumi, where traffic rose by 30% to 1,165,767.

Tourism’s contribution to the economy

According to the National Tourism Administration, Georgia recorded 6.1 million visits between January and September 2025, up 5.4% compared with the same period of 2024. Demand shifted toward longer stays: the number of visits with overnight accommodation increased by 7.9% to 4.31 million. This trend points to higher tourist engagement and a stronger economic impact for the sector.

The largest number of trips came from Russia — 1.25 million visits (+12.1%). Turkey followed with 963,633 visits, and Armenia with 720,114. Israel moved into fourth place, posting growth of nearly 28% to 293,699 visits. Azerbaijan rounded out the top five, with inbound traffic up 34.9% to 220,168. The fastest growth was recorded from China, up 44.9% to 96,333. An increasing number of visitors are also arriving from Uzbekistan, India, Saudi Arabia and European countries.

Tourism continues to make a significant contribution to the national economy. Preliminary estimates show that revenue from international travel reached about $3.6 billion in the first nine months of 2025, exceeding the figure for the same period of 2024. Broader geographic demand and a rise in longer stays are strengthening the sector’s resilience and its role as one of Georgia’s key economic drivers.

Market differentiation

Analysts at International Investment note that current trends point to Georgia’s tourism industry entering a more mature phase of development. Increased aviation activity is accompanied by longer stays and higher revenues from international visits, improving overall sector efficiency.

Against this backdrop, interest in the hotel segment, including luxury, is growing, driven by affluent travellers and investment demand. One of the largest projects — the Wyndham Grand Batumi Gonio hotel complex — is being developed in the Batumi resort area. The emergence of such properties in key tourist locations reflects investor interest in branded accommodation formats and reinforces market differentiation. As a result, the tourism industry is gaining a more diversified structure: mass tourism provides volume, while high-end hotels support a higher average spend and improve income stability over the medium term.