Georgian Airways

History

The airline Airzena was established in September 1993. Initially, Airzena operated charter flights to the United Arab Emirates, Italy, China, Egypt, India, and Syria, as well as a regularly scheduled flight to Vienna. The company managed to achieve recognition and retain its share in the aviation market during the economically and politically complicated period of the 1990s.

In 1999, Airzena became the flag carrier of Georgia. In August 2004, the company changed its name to Georgian Airways. During the first half of the 2000s, the airline's management decided to modernise the fleet, and leased two Boeing 737-500s from Hapag-Lloyd. This was the first case of a Georgian airline operating up-to-date Western equipment.

Russian sanctions

Following what Russia perceived as anti-Russian protests in June 2019, it banned all flights to and from Georgia starting 8 July 2019. Georgian Airways flights to Moscow-Vnukovo have since been operated by Aircompany Armenia via Yerevan. The ban was revoked by Russian president Vladimir Putin on 10 May 2023, and starting 15 May, Georgian Airways announced it would then resume flights to Moscow from 20 May, with the first flight arriving in Vnukovo on that day. In response, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky imposed sanctions against the airline on 1 July.

Bankruptcy

Georgian Airways filed for bankruptcy on 31 December 2021, linked to restructuring proceedings, and the airline was put up for sale in January 2022. The airline is in debt of (), against in assets. The causes include the Russian flight ban since July 2019, but most of all, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the airline hard. The Georgian authorities banned international air traffic for 11 months, with the exception of a number of monthly government mandated flights for repatriation purposes (operated by Georgian Airways). Georgian Airways cut back on its fleet (such as disposing of its Embraer planes) but with the Georgian resumption of international air traffic in February 2021, it could only offer six destinations.

The insolvency plan focused on the year-round profitable routes (Amsterdam, Tel Aviv and Minsk) and a few profitable seasonal charters, while guaranteeing these flights. Currently, the airline operates more routes.

Destinations

As of October 2024, Georgian Airways operates scheduled services from Tbilisi International Airport to destinations in the European Union, Israel and Russia, while it jointly sells (but does not operate) flights to Armenia and France.

Partners

Georgian Airways partners with the following airlines:

• Aegean Airlines
• Air Astana
• Air Dilijans
• Air France
• Austrian Airlines
• Azerbaijan Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• El Al
• Emirates
• Iran Air
• KLM

Fleet

Current fleet

, Georgian Airways operates the following aircraft:

Former fleet

The airline fleet previously included the following aircraft (inconclusive list)

• Boeing 737-300
• Boeing 737-400
• Boeing 737-500
• Boeing 737-800
• Bombardier CRJ100ER
• Embraer 190
• Embraer 195

Safety rating, accidents and incidents

Georgian Airways has a 6/7 safety rating in AirlineRatings.

• On 4 April 2011, Georgian Airways Flight 834, a charter flight for a United Nations mission, operated by a Georgian Airways Bombardier CRJ100ER (registered as 4L-GAE) crashed at N'djili Airport, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, while flying at very low altitude in 'extreme inclement' weather. 32 of the 33 people on board were killed.

References

References

1. "Contacts".
2. [[Flight International]] 3 April 2007
3. (8 July 2019). "Putin's Ban On Direct Russia-Georgia Flights Comes Into Force". [[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]].
4. (2023-05-16). "Georgian Airways to launch Tbilisi-Moscow-Tbilisi flights from May 20". InterpressNews.
5. (2023-07-01). "Зеленский ввел санкции против грузинской авиакомпании Georgian Airways".
6. (2019-07-08). "Georgian Airways has filed for Bankruptcy / Rehabilitation". Business Media Georgia.
7. (2022-01-18). "Indebted Georgian Airways Up for Sale". Civil Georgia.
8. (2022-01-20). "Georgian Airways files for insolvency, put up for sale". Eurasianet.
9. (2019-08-01). "Georgian Airways estimates $25mn loss from Russia flight ban". Ch Aviation.
10. (2021-02-01). "Georgia resumes regular flights today". Agenda.ge.
11. (2022-01-18). "Attention!". Georgian Airways.
12. (2 February 2024). "Georgian Airways Resumes Brussels Service in NS24". AeroRoutes.
13. "Daily Direct Flights To Tel Aviv". Georgian Airways.
14. (18 February 2025). "Georgian Airways NS25 Boeing 767 Operations". AeroRoutes.
15. (25 June 2025). "El Al Joins Flydubai, Etihad, Ethiopian, Hainan, Georgian and Others in Driving a Powerful Return of Flights to Israel as Tensions Subside and Airspace Reopens - Travel And Tour World". Travel And Tour World.
16. (1 July 2025). "Georgian Airways to resume Tel Aviv flights from July 2". LEPL Public Broadcaster.
17. (17 February 2025). "GEORGIAN AIRWAYS NS25 ITALY NETWORK ADDITIONS".
18. (27 August 2025). "Georgian Airways Lists Qatar Service Addition in 4Q25".
19. (8 November 2023). "Georgian Airways Resumes 2 Russian Routes in Dec 2023".
20. (24 August 2024). "Georgian Airways to launch flights to another Russian city". Trend.Az.
21. (23 September 2024). "Georgian Airways Nov 2024 Seychelles Charters". AeroRoutes.
22. "Georgian Airways Partners".
23. (September 2025). "Global Airline Guide 2025 - Georgian Airways".
24. "Fleet of Georgian Airways".
25. (22 May 2025). "Georgian Airways 2Q25 One-Time Boeing 767 Munich Service". AeroRoutes.
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27. "Safety Rating Criteria - Airline Ratings".
28. Morris, Hugh. (2017-11-02). "Which airline was just voted the best in the world for the fifth year running?". The Telegraph.
29. Zhang, Benjamin. "These are the best airlines in the world for 2018".
30. "Investigation Report of accident involving Georgian Airways aircraft CRJ-100ER (4L-GAE) at Kinshasa's N'djili Airport Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on 4 April 2011". Ministry of the Transportation and Ways of Communication.