Georgia's Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, announced on Monday (8 April) the construction of a new international airport in Tbilisi, to be located in Vaziani, to increase the country's air capacity to meet the growing demand from tourism. The new airport, which is expected to handle up to 19 million passengers a year, is a strategic move to support the expected increase in tourists and visitors.
With the capacity of the current Tbilisi airport limited to 4-4.5 million passengers, the government analysed options and decided that building a new facility for $1.26 billion was more beneficial than expanding the existing one for $900 million, particularly as the new airport can be expanded beyond the 15 million passenger limit of the existing one.
The design and tendering process for the airport, which will be built to the highest modern standards, is expected to be completed next year, marking a significant step forward in Georgia's infrastructure development and economic growth. The initiative is expected to have a significant economic impact, contributing an average of GEL 350 million per year to the Georgian economy.