The founder of Georgian Airways, Tamaz Gaiashvili, stated that the company plans on expanding Russia-bound services by adding flights to Yekaterinburg starting this summer.
The airline currently operated two daily flights between Georgia and Russia, and intends to increase frequency by adding another one in the upcoming months.
“We plan to add flights to Yekaterinburg,” said Gaiashvili in an interview with RBC. “I think flights to Yekaterinburg will start this summer. We have enough planes and I think we can operate two or three flights a week.”
Georgian Airways has restarted flights to Novosibirsk, St. Petersburg, and Moscow, routes partially suspended during winter. Gaiashvili mentioned that passenger flow has significantly increased since the restoration of direct air travel between the two countries. “The Georgian diaspora, which was deprived of direct flights, is benefiting from this now,” he added.
Georgian Airways operates a fleet of eight passenger Boeings and one regional jet. Gaiashvili also manages a cargo airline. He estimates that Russian carriers handle 80% of passenger traffic between the two countries, while Georgian Airways carries the remaining 20%.