The Tbilisi-based Georgian Airways has announced the commencement of flights from Batumi, western, coastal Georgia, to Moscow, starting April 2. Tickets for these flights are now available for purchase through the airline's official website.

Previously, the airline operated flights between Tbilisi and Moscow. Flights from Batumi to Moscow will operate every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, the company said. 

Georgian Airways initially introduced Tbilisi-Moscow flights following the decision by Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 10, 2023 to lift travel and visa restrictions with Georgia on the backdrop of the Kremlin’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine. 
Putin's decrees included the restoration of direct air traffic with Georgia, which had been suspended since the summer of 2019, following large protests in Tbilisi sparked by the presence of Russian MPs in the Georgian parliament,  and the cancellation of the visa regime in place since 2000.

Since its inauguration of the Tbilisi-Moscow route on May 20, 2023, Georgian Airways has seen significant improvements in its performance. 

Statistical data indicates a notable surge in passenger numbers, with the airline moving from the 9th to the 4th position in the market. In 2022, Georgian Airways accounted for 3 percent of the market, serving 148,612 passengers. By 2023, this figure had doubled, reaching 5 percent with 326,873 passengers flown.