Month: March 2025

Serbian company Air Serbia enters the Georgian aviation market.

Belgrade-Tbilisi-Belgrade flights will be operated from June 15, with a frequency of three times a week, using Airbus 319 aircraft, the Georgian Airports Association reported.

Georgia’s airspace utilization rate increased by 29% over the past year. In total, Georgia airports served 7,450,652 passengers and 32,528 flights in 2024. Compared to 2023, the number of passengers and flights increased by 24%.

Hungarian budget airline Wizz Air remains the leader in Georgia’s aviation market in 2024.

The top five are as follows:

• Wizz Air – 17% of the market (1 259 069 passengers carried);
• Turkish Airlines – 7% (553 349);
• Pegasus – 7% (546 211);
• Georgian Airways – 7% (515 113);
• Azerbaijan Airlines – 6% (412 980).

One person was killed and two injured in the collapse of a building located near the parking lot of Mtatsminda Park in Tbilisi, Mtavari archi TV channel reported.

The partially collapsed building, which is privately owned, was used by guests of Mtatsminda Park as a place for photo shoots. According to media reports, the deceased man was 28 years old.

According to the Interior Ministry, the investigation is being conducted under the article “Violation of safety rules during mining, construction or other works”. The crime is punishable by imprisonment from two to five years.

Mtatsminda Park is one of the main attractions of the city. As for the name, Mtatsminda translates from Georgian as “Holy Mountain”. The area of the park is about 100 hectares, it is the highest park in Tbilisi and is located at an altitude of more than 700 meters above sea level.

The Civil Aviation Agency of Georgia opposes the use of Sukhumi airport, calling its operation illegal. The reason is the absence of a Georgian certificate of suitability. According to the agency, flights to Abkhazia violate the provisions of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.

Sukhumi airport was closed in 1993 by order of Georgian authorities. In 2006, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) revoked its code and excluded it from its documents.

However, in 2019, the Abkhazian government independently assigned the airport a new international four-letter code URAS.

Despite Georgia’s protests, Sukhumi airport accepted a test flight of YUVT Aero airline from Moscow on February 7. Moreover, regular air service between Russia and Abkhazia may be launched as early as May 1.

This step caused a new wave of discussions about the status of the region and the legality of the airport. Georgia intends to seek a ban on flights to Sukhumi, citing international norms and national legislation.

Rain and wind are expected in most parts of Georgia on March 19-20, while heavy snow is expected in high mountainous areas, the Environment Agency reported. The danger level is considered by experts as high.

In the western part of the country the weather will begin to deteriorate at the end of the day on March 17. Heavy snow is possible in mountainous areas in some places. Wind is expected in coastal areas, and a storm of 4-5 points is forecast at sea.

Snow melt and accompanying intense rainfall caused by high air temperatures in mountainous areas of Georgia may significantly increase water levels in rivers.

There is a risk of flooding and inundation of nearby areas. Flash floods are expected on small rivers in eastern Georgia. Avalanches are possible in high mountainous areas of the country, landslides and mudslides are possible in hilly and mountainous areas. The danger level is considered by experts as high.

During the last week the thermometer has been rising to 26-28 degrees Celsius in most parts of Georgia. Unusual for this time of year heat was preceded by heavy snowfall, which fell on the regions of Western Georgia on February 22. Guria and Adjara were particularly affected by the elements.

On March 14-16, Georgia will continue to have precipitation-free weather and atypically high temperatures for March, in some regions it will be up to +30 degrees Celsius, the National Environmental Agency reports.

In Tbilisi the daytime temperature will be +24, +26 degrees.

In coastal regions (Batumi, Kobuleti, Anaklia, Poti, Sukhumi) it will be +25, +27. In the plains of Western Georgia, including Kutaisi and Zugdidi, they promise +27, +29.

In the mountainous areas of Western Georgia (Ambrolauri, Oni, Tsageri, Shovi, Chiatura, Sachkhere, Khulo, Rikoti Pass) the temperature will vary between +24 and +26 degrees. Even at altitude, such as in Mestia and Bakhmaro, temperatures will exceed +20.

In the plains of eastern Georgia, in Rustavi and Gori, it will be up to +27. In the mountainous areas, in Akhaltsikhe and Borjomi, the temperature will be +20, +22 degrees. In Gudauri and Omalo the daytime temperature is expected to be +15, +17 degrees.

A special regime has been introduced on the road to Sairme health resort.

The Department of Roads of Georgia from March 10 to April 10 introduces a special mode of traffic on the section of Baghdati – Sairme resort (Imereti region) of the road of intra-state importance Kutaisi – Baghdati – Abastumani – Benara, the department reported.

Movement of vehicles will be limited daily from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 19:00. During the rest of the day and night, the movement of vehicles is free.

Restrictions will be in effect for the time of repair works on the specified section.

Forecasters predict warm weather mostly without precipitation on the territory of Georgia in the coming days, and in the western part of the country the air temperature may rise to plus 27 degrees Celsius.

According to the National Environmental Agency, March 11-13 will be warm and without precipitation in the capital of Georgia. The air temperature in Tbilisi during the day will be +23…+25 degrees.

In coastal areas (Batumi, Kobuleti, Anaklia and Poti) it will be mostly without precipitation, the air temperature during the day will be +24…+26 degrees Celsius.

Another earthquake occurred in Georgia on Saturday, this time with magnitude 4.0, the National Seismic Monitoring Center reports.

The epicenter of the earthquake was located in the north-eastern part of the republic, 31 kilometers from Tianeti settlement near the village of Ukanpshavi.

Earlier the Center reported about the earthquake near the Georgian-Armenian border with magnitude 5.1.

Also on Saturday, an earthquake was reported in northern Armenia. The Rescue Service of the Armenian Interior Ministry reported that the earthquake occurred 6 km northeast of the city of Spitak (100 km north of Yerevan) at a depth of 10 km, with a magnitude of 4.6.