Reportedly, after the pandemic, the airline returned to the Georgian market in January 2023 and at this stage flies three times a week. According to Irakli Karkashadze, General Director of the Union of Georgian Airports, the introduction of a visa-free regime for Chinese citizens and daily air flights will help generate new tourist flows.
"As a result of our joint work, an agreement has been reached with the largest Chinese airline China Southern to increase the frequencies from 3 to 7 on the Ürümqi-Tbilisi route. This will significantly contribute to attracting new tourist flows to the country and increasing the share of Asian airlines in our market. Our next task is to gradually increase the area of flights from other Chinese cities as well,'' said Irakli Karkashdze.
China Southern Airlines served 75 flights and 17,833 passengers on the Ürümqi -Tbilisi-Ürümqi route in January-August. Under the decision of the Government of Georgia, from September 11, Chinese citizens can enter Georgia without a visa. With the daily flights planned from September 27, according to the preliminary forecast, the passenger flow will increase to 23,000 by the end of the year", - the Union of Georgian Airports stated.