New Tbilisi airport to handle 18 million passengers, PM says

Georgia will build a new international airport in Vaziani, designed to accommodate at least 18 million passengers annually, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced during his annual address to Parliament on Friday.

“If the current operating airport is designed for 4 million passengers, the new Tbilisi International Airport will be designed for at least 18 million. Preparatory work has already begun,” the Prime Minister said.

Kobakhidze noted that the government will launch the partner selection process later this year, with a partner company expected to be confirmed in 2026. The relocation of the airport to Vaziani is scheduled for completion by 2031.

The official further pledged the new airport will enhance Georgia’s connectivity and contribute significantly to tourism and economic growth.

In addition to the Tbilisi project, Kobakhidze highlighted the expansion of Kutaisi International Airport, where a 350 million GEL investment will increase capacity from 2 million to 5 million passengers. A new 3.5-kilometre runway is under construction, and work on a new terminal will begin this year.

“This is the largest infrastructure project being implemented in the region, and it will have a transformative impact on Imereti and the country as a whole,” Kobakhidze said.