Kutaisi Airport: Details about the new runway

The Kutaisi International Airport named after David Agmashenebeli is preparing for a significant change - the construction of a new runway with a length of 3.5 kilometers. This large-scale project also includes the development of airport infrastructure and should be presented to the public within the next six months. The corresponding agreement was signed by the Association of Airports of Georgia and the company "Absolute Service".

The company "Absolute Service" was selected through an electronic tender, and the investment value of this ambitious project is more than 3.2 million lari (more than $ 1.2 million). These funds will be allocated from the Airports Association's own resources.

According to the signed agreement, the project will include not only the construction of a new runway, but also the development of access roads and drainage systems. This is an important step that will turn Kutaisi International Airport into the only airport in Georgia capable of receiving large aircraft without restrictions.

The new runway will be specially designed for aircraft with the E code, including types such as Boeing-747. This means that Kutaisi will become available for large-sized (wide body) aircraft, which will provide an opportunity to open new international air routes.

Currently, the Kutaisi airport operates under the code D, and its runway is 2.5 kilometers, which makes it possible to serve medium-sized aircraft. This step will fit into the "Development Strategy of Georgia - Vision 2030", developed by the Government of Georgia, and will help strengthen the country's position in the field of cargo aviation. The construction of a new runway will contribute to the creation of a logistics center and cargo terminal near the airport.

The initiator of this project was the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili, who said that the Kutaisi airport will soon reach a passenger traffic of one million people, and needs an appropriate upgrade. According to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Georgia Levan Davitashvili, the state will invest more than 85 million lari (more than $ 30 million) in the Kutaisi International Airport for its full functioning.

It is important to note that in the first seven months of 2023, the Kutaisi International Airport served a record number of passengers - 856,646 people, which is 90% more than in the same period of 2019. The number of flights also approached the historical maximum - 517 flights, which is 94% more than in July 2019. Currently, there are five airlines operating at the airport, serving 35 destinations in 18 countries.