According to Zautashvili, a solution may not be found until the tourist flows increase and steps are taken to support the development of the Georgian companies.

"The coronavirus has hit the aviation industry hard; the airspace has remained largely unused. Statistics have recently been published showing the capacity of our airspace. There is a 40% difference compared to the year before the pandemic, which is a big problem. The prospects and development opportunities of the sector depend on the tourist inflows, which is still low,” – Zautashvili said. 

As for the prospects of the Georgian aviation, according to the expert, the situation may improve by the end of the year, and by 2024 the industry will regain its pre-pandemic status, which requires a correct and consistent policy.

According to official data, in 2021, Georgian airspace was used 87,314 times. Compared to 2020, the number of overflights increased by 31%, although compared to 2019, the number of overflights in Georgian airspace decreased by almost 40%.