Istanbul based TAV Airports put the new terminal into operation at Georgia Tbilisi Airport, which increased its number of passengers fivefold in the last 10 years. Having been invested US$60mln, the new terminal will enable Tbilisi Airport to provide service to 4 million passengers per annum.
TAV Airports, Turkey’s leading global brand in airport operations, inaugurated the new 12,000-square meter terminal building at Tbilisi Airport, the entrance gate to Georgia. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Turkish Minister of Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communication Ahmet Arslan, Turkish State Airports Authority (DHMI) General Manager Funda Ocak, TAV Airports Holding President & CEO Sani Şener, TAV Georgia General Manager Mete Erkal and other officials.
TAV Airports President & CEO Sani Şener stated: “Georgia was the first country abroad where TAV Airports started its operations with the experience and know-how acquired. Whilst the number of passengers hosted by Tbilisi Airport, located at the capital city of Georgia, was around 600,000 in 2007; this year, we will be providing service to approximately 3 million passengers. Turkish Airlines increased the number of flights to Tbilisi from 3 to 33 per week. Pegasus and AtlasGlobal airlines started to launch flights to Georgia. In the meantime, TAV has grown rapidly and become a highly-preferred company in airport operation business worldwide with its products and services offered at 76 airports in 17 countries. Today TAV annually provides service to 110 million passengers. So far, TAV has invested in approximately US$180mln in Georgia. We will continue to endeavor toward strengthening the collaboration and good relations between Turkey and Georgia".
Together with the new terminal building which has been completed in one year, the total area of the airport increased to 37,000 square meters. The number of passenger boarding bridges is increased to 5; while the car park capacity is increased to 920 from 670. Furthermore, the project included aircraft parking area for five aircraft and 18 passport control desks. Last year, TAV undertook the rehabilitation of the runway and taxiways at Tbilisi Airport, besides the power production through solar panels. TAV Airports President & CEO Sani Şener was honored with the State Medal of Distinguished Service for his contributions to the bilateral relations between Turkey and Georgia.
TAV Airports has undertaken the operations of Tbilisi, which was the first project abroad, and Batumi airports in 2005 and 2007, respectively. As of the end of the first eight months of the year, the two airports served 2.4 million passengers with an increase of 45 percent compared to the same period of the previous year.
Tbilisi Airport was awarded the Best Airport of Eastern Europe at 'Skytrax World Airport Awards' held in 2014 in Barcelona, Spain. The airport currently has flights to a total of 45 destinations with 42 airlines.
TAV has the right to operate the Tbilisi and Batumi airports until 2027.
