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Georgian Airways, the privately owned flag carrier of Georgia, is headquartered in Tbilisi and operates from its main hub at Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport (TBS). Founded in September 1993 as Airzena, it adopted its current name in August 2004, reflecting its role as Georgia’s leading airline. The airline serves 13 destinations across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, including Amsterdam, Paris, Tel Aviv, and Moscow, with a fleet of seven modern Boeing and Bombardier aircraft. Carrying approximately 500,000 passengers annually, Georgian Airways focuses on safe, reliable, and customer-centric air transportation, offering both passenger and cargo services. As a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) since 2010, it adheres to rigorous safety standards through the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). Despite financial challenges, including a 2021 bankruptcy filing, the airline continues to prioritize fleet modernization and service quality.
Georgian Airways began as Airzena, established by three pilots in 1993, initially operating charter flights to the United Arab Emirates, Italy, China, Egypt, India, and Syria, alongside a scheduled route to Vienna, Austria. In 1999, it became Georgia’s flag carrier, solidifying its national importance during the economically turbulent 1990s. The airline rebranded to Georgian Airways in 2004, aligning with a strategic push for modernization. In the early 2000s, it leased two Boeing 737-500s from Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd, marking the start of fleet upgrades. By 2010, Georgian Airways joined IATA, passing its first IOSA audit, with recertifications through March 2019.
The airline faced significant challenges, including a Russian flight ban from July 8, 2019, following anti-Russian protests in Georgia, which forced rerouting of Moscow flights via Yerevan with Aircompany Armenia. The ban was lifted on May 15, 2023, allowing direct Tbilisi–Moscow flights to resume on May 20, though this led to sanctions from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 1, 2023, citing geopolitical concerns. The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted operations, with an 11-month international flight ban in Georgia, limiting the airline to government-mandated repatriation flights. This, combined with a $52 million debt against $21 million in assets, led to a bankruptcy filing on December 31, 2021, tied to a restructuring plan, with the airline put up for sale in January 2022. Despite this, Georgian Airways stabilized by focusing on profitable routes like Amsterdam, Tel Aviv, and Minsk. In 2023, it became Georgia’s first airline to operate a widebody passenger aircraft, a Boeing 767-300, and launched new routes, including Tbilisi–Rome and Tbilisi–Berlin in 2024.
Georgian Airways operates a fleet of seven aircraft: one Boeing 767-300 (245 seats: 2 First Class, 16 Business, 227 Economy), two Boeing 737-700s (133 seats each: 12 Business, 121 Economy), two Boeing 737-800s (172 and 168 seats: 16–18 Business, 150–156 Economy), one Bombardier CRJ200 (46 seats: 4 Business, 42 Economy), and one Bombardier Global 6000 (14-seat VIP for private charters, capable of nonstop Tbilisi–Washington or Tbilisi–Tokyo flights). The fleet’s average age is 12 years, with ongoing modernization efforts. The airline operates 13 routes, including Tbilisi to Vienna, Amsterdam, Paris, Moscow, Tel Aviv, and Larnaca, with codeshares on Air France, KLM, and Austrian Airlines flights. Interline agreements with 13 airlines, including Air Astana, Delta, and Hahn Air, expand connectivity to over 100 destinations.
Tbilisi International Airport, the airline’s hub, serves 3.7 million passengers annually and is a major cargo hub, with facilities for perishables and general freight. Georgian Airways operates 50 weekly flights, with daily services to Tel Aviv (270 flights monthly) and thrice-weekly flights to Berlin, Munich, and Vienna. Cargo services focus on fast, reliable transport between Asia, Europe, and Africa, leveraging Georgia’s strategic location. However, high leasing costs and the 2019–2023 Russian flight ban have strained operations.