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.