Georgia has started a major expansion project at Tbilisi International Airport. TAV Georgia will invest $150 million in the project. However, the expansion has also created questions about the government's plan to build a new international airport near Vaziani, outside Tbilisi.
$150 Million
TAV Georgia will invest $150 million to expand Tbilisi International Airport.
10 Million Passengers
The expanded Tbilisi Airport will be able to serve up to 10 million passengers a year.
2032
The planned Vaziani Airport is expected to become operational in 2032.
Tbilisi Airport Is Getting Bigger
The expansion of Tbilisi International Airport will take place between 2026 and 2028. The airport's annual passenger capacity will increase from five million to 10 million.
Passenger Traffic Is Growing
Tbilisi International Airport served a record 5.4 million passengers in 2025, increasing the need for more airport capacity.
The airport will receive new boarding bridges, aircraft stands, check-in counters, passport control points, and baggage belts. Passenger areas, shops, restaurants, business lounges, and parking facilities will also be improved.
TAV Georgia has operated airports in the country since 2005. Under an agreement signed in January 2025, the company will continue operating Tbilisi International Airport until 2032.
What Is the Vaziani Airport Plan?
The Georgian government has also been planning a new international airport near the Vaziani military base outside Tbilisi.
New Airport
The Vaziani project would create a new international airport outside the current Tbilisi airport area.
20 Million Passengers
The planned airport is expected to serve up to 20 million passengers every year.
This capacity would be twice the future capacity of the expanded Tbilisi International Airport. The Vaziani airport is expected to become operational in 2032. This is also the year when TAV Georgia's current agreement to operate Tbilisi Airport is expected to end.
The timing of the two projects has created questions about whether Georgia will continue with both plans or focus mainly on the existing Tbilisi airport.
Critics Question the Two Projects
Some opposition politicians have questioned the government's airport plans. They say it is difficult to understand why a large amount of money is being spent on the current airport if a completely new airport may open a few years later.
Roman Gotsiridze Questions the Plan
Former National Bank Governor Roman Gotsiridze said the $150 million expansion is difficult to understand if the government still plans to open a new airport near Vaziani.
The planned Vaziani airport is expected to be a much larger and more expensive project.
Uncertainty About the Vaziani Project
There is now uncertainty about the future of the Vaziani airport plan. A person working close to the travel industry told OC Media that there had been little recent information about the project.
No Tender Announcement
There has been no recent public announcement about a tender for the Vaziani airport project.
Focus on Current Airport
The government may now be giving more attention to expanding the existing Tbilisi airport.
Georgia Continues to Develop Aviation
Georgia is also investing in other aviation projects. Development work is taking place at Kutaisi International Airport, while regional airports and passenger terminals are also being improved.
The country is also trying to attract more international visitors. Georgia has promoted tourism in China, and new direct flights are helping connect the two countries.
Two Major Airport Plans
Both the Tbilisi Airport expansion and the Vaziani Airport project officially remain part of Georgia's aviation plans.
For now, the $150 million investment in the existing airport has created new questions about whether the Vaziani project will continue as originally planned.
