Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Mariam Kvrivishvili, together with Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, participated in the signing of an agreement between the United Airports of Georgia and TAV Georgia, a member of the French Groupe ADP, under which the company will continue operating Tbilisi International Airport until the end of 2031, the Ministry of Economy reported.

Speaking at the event, Kvrivishvili said the agreement marks a new and important stage in the development of Tbilisi International Airport. Under the renewed terms, the French state-owned Groupe ADP, which owns TAV Georgia, will continue managing the airport for the next five years in coordination with the Georgian state.

The Minister emphasized the strategic importance of civil aviation for Georgia’s economic development, noting its key role in transport and logistics, tourism, and overall economic growth.

“The aviation sector makes a special contribution to the development of transport and logistics, tourism, and the economy of our country. Strengthening this industry, developing aviation infrastructure, and expanding direct flights have been among the government’s top priorities,” Kvrivishvili said, adding that the sector has significant potential and will remain a focus of continued policy and infrastructure development.

The agreement was signed by Levan Moseshvili, Director General of the United Airports of Georgia, and Tea Zakaradze, General Manager of TAV Georgia. The signing ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Tamar Ioseliani, Groupe ADP Chairman and CEO Philippe Pascal, TAV Airports President Serkan Kaptan, and representatives of the public and private sectors.

Kvrivishvili also highlighted record achievements in the aviation and tourism sectors in 2025, attributing the results to the government’s consistent policy. According to her, Georgia recorded historical highs in five key areas: the number of airlines, direct destinations, flight frequencies, passenger traffic, and tourist visits.

Currently, 77 airlines operate flights to 125 direct destinations from Georgia’s three international airports. In 2025, the airports handled 8.5 million passengers and more than 37,000 flights, representing increases of 14 percent in passenger traffic and 16 percent in flight numbers compared to 2024.

The Minister noted that the growth in direct flights directly supported tourism development, with Georgia hosting more than 5.5 million tourist visits in 2025, marking an unprecedented result for the sector.