US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan on Friday said that discussions were likely to begin on direct flights between Georgia and the US, which she said would be “wonderful”, at an event of the Americal-Georgia Business Council. 

“I think anyone who has flown from the United States to Georgia knows how wonderful it would be to have a direct flight. It is something that’s been under discussion for some time. Before COVID, in particular, there was some progress, and I think the discussions are beginning again”, said Degnan. 

She stated that the travel industry had been seriously affected by the pandemic and noted that “I am not sure where that discussion is and what the economics of the issue are as we look at the travel industry after the pandemic”. 

“It certainly would be an important bridge between the United States and Georgia. I have often said that sometimes it is hard to convince people in the US to come to Georgia for the first time because it seems so far away. But you never have trouble getting them to come back the second time after they have experienced Georgian hospitality”, said the diplomat. 

As for the free trade agreement, the ambassador said that “that’s an area that’s handled by the US Trade Representative, not the State Department”.