TBILISI, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Georgia launched an expansion and modernization project for Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport to increase its annual passenger capacity to 10 million, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said Monday.
Speaking at the launch event, Kobakhidze said that TAV Georgia would invest more than 150 million U.S. dollars into the project under an agreement signed with the Georgian government.
He described the airport as a key driver of the country's economic growth, as well as its connectivity and appeal to tourism and investment, saying that upgraded infrastructure sharpens Georgia's competitiveness, fosters job creation and cements its position in regional and global transport networks.
The project is scheduled to be implemented between 2026 and 2028. It includes the expansion of the passenger terminal and airfield infrastructure, modernization of technological and operational systems, and further improvements in service quality in line with international standards.
Kobakhidze said the expansion project came amid sustained growth in Georgia's aviation sector. International airports in Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi handled a record 8.5 million passengers in 2025, while passenger traffic has continued to rise alongside the expansion of international routes and the entry of new airlines into the Georgian market.
He added that record tourism figures have also contributed to the growth in air travel demand.
TAV Georgia, the project's investor, is a subsidiary of TAV Airports, which is part of French international airport operator Groupe ADP.
