“The initiative of opening an airport in Kakheti, voiced by the Prime-minister, is unclear in its substance,” – stated to BM.ge Giorgi Kodua, an aviation expert, HUB Georgia Board member. According to him, the Prime-minister did not specify what type of airport he meant, when said that “Kakheti need a separate airport”.
“If he means an international airport, than it is not possible, since according to the agreement signed with TAV-Georgia, no international airport can be opened within 150km radius around Tbilisi. This can be done only at the extreme border of Lagodekhi. But if the Prime-minister meant an airport for domestic flights, we already have one in Telavi”, - Kodua states.
According to him, is the state is planning to violate the agreement with TAV, then it is better to make an airport close to Tbilisi, to make a regional hub necessary for Georgia, however, this can not be done with TAV operating in Tbilisi. As says Kodua, service tariffs are very high in Tbilisi. Reduction of these tariffs will make possible a significant increase of tourist flow.
