Tbilisi International Airport handled more than 5.4 million passengers last year.
The Georgia government unveiled a plan to significantly increase the capacity of Tbilisi Airport (TBS), citing a “historic high” in tourists visiting the country in 2025.
The government, which owns the airport, extended TAV Airports’ concession to manage TBS after the Istanbul-based airports operator agreed to invest $150 million in a major expansion project.
TAV has managed the airport under contract with the Georgian government since 2005 with its concession set to expire in January 2027. The government has agreed to extend the concession through the end of 2031.
The expansion will add 10 passenger bridges and seven new remote aircraft parking stands. The project will also include the addition of 10 check-in counters, 24 passport control counters and two baggage carousels. “Existing areas will be refurbished, and new commercial areas will be created to further develop the passenger experience, with a particular focus on showcasing Georgian cuisine and products,” TAV said. “Carpark capacity will increase to accommodate 500 more vehicles.”
The number of annual passengers handled by the airport has risen from around 540,000 in 2005 to more than 5.4 million in 2025, according to TAV, which has previously invested $230 million in TBS infrastructure. The airport is connected to 71 destinations by 63 airlines.
“The significance of the airport's expansion becomes even more evident given that 2025 was a record year for the development of tourism and aviation in Georgia,” Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said during a signing ceremony with TAV to extend the concession. “The rapid development of Georgia's economy, and specifically the tourism and aviation sectors, has enabled new airlines to enter the market, new routes to be added, a significant increase in Georgia's connectivity with leading global aviation hubs and a further strengthening of our country's role in both the regional and global aviation space.”
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