Passenger Traffic in Georgian Airports Increased by 13% in January

According to the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency, in January 2025, airports across the country handled 530,546 passengers, marking a 13% increase compared to the same period in 2024. The highest growth was recorded at Batumi International Airport, while analysts also summarized the full-year performance of 2024.

At Tbilisi International Airport, 343,740 passengers were served in January, reflecting a 20% increase year-over-year. In Batumi, traffic surged by 96% to 57,129 passengers. Meanwhile, Kutaisi Airport handled 128,000 passengers, showing a 16% decline, but experts noted that the terminal had set record-breaking numbers throughout the previous year. Following reconstruction, Kutaisi Airport is expected to accommodate all types of aircraft, with the government focusing on its development due to its affordable ticket prices and extensive flight programs.

Record-Breaking Passenger Traffic in 2024

The Georgian Civil Aviation Agency also reported that in 2024, total passenger traffic in the country’s airports reached 7,450,652 on both scheduled and charter flights, setting a new all-time record and exceeding 2023 figures by 24%. It is noteworthy that 2023 was also a record-breaking year, with 6,013,995 passengers.

In 2024:

Tbilisi International Airport handled 4,750,425 passengers (+29% YoY).
Kutaisi International Airport recorded 1,722,804 passengers (+3%).
Batumi International Airport saw a 53% surge with 951,766 passengers.
Additionally, the number of flights also reached an all-time high, totaling 32,528 operations (+29%), including 25,342 scheduled flights and 7,186 charter flights. Compared to 2023, the number of flights increased by 24%.

Cargo transportation also experienced strong growth, reaching 25,695.58 tonnes (+25%).

Wizz Air Dominates the Georgian Aviation Market

In 2024, the airline Wizz Air remained the market leader in Georgia, carrying 1,259,069 passengers, which represents 17% of the total market share. The top five airlines in Georgia were:

Wizz Air – 17% market share (1,259,069 passengers).
Turkish Airlines – 7% (553,349 passengers).
Pegasus Airlines – 7% (546,211 passengers).
Georgian Airways.
Azerbaijan Airlines.

New Airline Agreements & Increased Flight Routes

Earlier, the Georgian Airports Union noted that in 2024, the number of flights increased by 25%, with 13 new agreements signed with 10 airlines.

In 2025, Georgia is set to expand its air connectivity, expecting new flight routes from London, Geneva, Milan, Paris, and Zurich. As of January 2025, 50 airlines are operating in Georgian airports, covering 92 destinations.

Tourism Growth & Economic Impact

According to the Georgian National Tourism Administration, the country recorded over 7.3 million international visits in 2024, a 4.2% increase compared to 2023. Among these, 5.1 million were tourists (+9% YoY).

The top three countries by arrivals were:

Russia – over 1.4 million visitors.
Turkey – 1.3 million visitors.
Armenia – 948,299 visitors.
The fastest-growing inbound markets were:

Israel (+43.3%).
China (+83.4%).

Tourism Revenue Surpasses $4.4 Billion

According to the National Bank of Georgia, tourism revenue in 2024 exceeded $4.4 billion, showing a 7.3% increase compared to 2023. Russia remained the largest contributor, with over $850 million in tourism-related income. Israel also saw a 41.6% increase in spending.

Experts predict continued growth in both tourist arrivals and revenue in 2025, reinforcing Georgia’s position as a rising travel hub in the region.