Record Year for Georgia’s Aviation: 6.5 Million Passengers in Nine Months

From January to September 2025, Georgia’s airports posted record figures for both flights and passenger traffic, announced Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Tamar Ioseliani. She emphasized that this period was the most successful for the industry since records began.

Airports across Georgia handled 6,489,755 passengers in the first nine months, 14% more than the same period in 2024 (5,682,304). Tbilisi led with 4,067,202 passengers (+12%). Kutaisi rose 10% to 1,407,814. The strongest growth was in Batumi—+32% versus January–September 2024 and +90% compared to 2019—reaching 995,099. In early October, the airport already welcomed its one-millionth passenger, German citizen Michaela Natowitsch, who arrived with her children for a holiday in Georgia—a historic high for the airport. Peak activity in the Adjara capital came in August with 213,636 passengers. Analysts also flagged 24 August as a single-day high, with 9,000+ passengers and 35 flights. The airport currently hosts 22 airlines across 24 destinations, with ~160 weekly frequencies.

Over the past year, operator TAV Georgia invested GEL 25 million in airport infrastructure. A full reconstruction of a 1 km runway segment has been completed, and the number of aircraft stands has been doubled—allowing the simultaneous accommodation of nine medium-haul aircraft and one helicopter. Plans include expanding passport control and arrivals zones, as well as the terminal reception area. TAV Georgia forecasts around 1.2 million passengers for the full year.



Across the country, 22,125 scheduled and 6,556 charter flights were recorded. The combined total of 28,681 is 18% above last year’s level for the same period (24,348). The cargo segment grew 50% to 25.9 million tons. Use of Georgian airspace—takeoffs, landings, and overflights—rose 5% to 229,972.

By carrier, the largest passenger volumes were:

Wizz Air — 1,065,618 (17% market share)

Georgian Airways — 509,238 (8%)

Turkish Airlines — 458,370 (7%)

Pegasus — 453,550 (7%)

Red Wings — 408,018 (6%)

Azerbaijan Airlines — 358,291 (6%)

Azimuth — 258,586 (4%)

EL AL — 255,460 (4%)

Israir — 204,645 (3%)

flydubai — 182,703 (3%)

The deputy minister noted that sector development efforts continue, with ongoing negotiations with airlines and airports to preserve and strengthen positive momentum. The aim is to serve even more passengers and increase flight numbers. “Our goal is to make Georgia a regional aviation hub,” she added.



Levan Moseshvili, CEO of the United Airports of Georgia, stated that the growth in flights and passengers clearly reflects the country’s well-crafted aviation policy and the sector’s dynamic development, strengthening Georgia’s position as a leading regional aviation center. Maia Omiadze, Head of the Georgian National Tourism Administration, confirmed that expanded flight programs and new routes are boosting inbound travel. Marketing campaigns and market diversification are also having a positive impact. Tourism revenues reached historic highs by the end of Q3 2025.

Over nine months, sector revenues increased 5.1% to over USD 3.6 billion. “Record figures were registered for the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Israel. We are also seeing growth from Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan,” Omiadze said. Among long-haul origins, she highlighted China, India, and the United States. The total number of visits in January–September 2025 [a href=""]exceeded[/a] 6.1 million (+5.4%).



The rising number of travelers is fueling growth in Georgia’s hospitality sector. The country offers a wide range of experiences—from family routes and short breaks to luxury stays with bespoke service. In recent years, this premium segment has grown the fastest, and developers are responding: hotels meeting the highest international standards are being built across multiple regions.

One of the most dynamic areas is the Gonio coastal district, where a modern tourism cluster with international brands is taking shape. A flagship luxury project is the Wyndham Grand Batumi Gonio complex, with over 27,000 sq m of facilities. A management agreement is already in place with Aimbridge Hospitality EMEA, a leading hotel operator.

The prestige of this resort has also drawn Eagle Hills from the UAE, which plans to develop the Marina Gonio project—one of the largest tourism complexes on the Black Sea, set to bolster the region’s profile as a premium-tourism and investment hub.