Tbilisi Shota Rustaveli International Airport has officially entered 2026 as a major regional player, having surpassed the historic 5.2 million passenger milestone in late 2025. This record growth has been fueled by Georgia’s rising popularity as a digital nomad hub and the airport’s strategic role in the Middle Corridor. To maintain this momentum, TAV Georgia is currently investing $65 million into upgrading runways to accommodate larger aircraft, ensuring the facility can handle the increasing demand until the new mega-airport project is completed.
The airport’s connectivity is reaching new heights this year with significant route expansions from world-class carriers. Etihad Airways is set to launch 14 weekly flights from Abu Dhabi starting March 2026, while Condor Airlines will return with daily service from Frankfurt in June. These new connections, alongside the start of construction on the $1.25 billion Vaziani Airport site, solidify Tbilisi’s position as a critical bridge between Europe and Asia, promising a record-breaking economic impact for the Georgian aviation sector this year.
