View source for Georgian Airways

{{Short description|Flag carrier of Georgia}}
{{Distinguish|Air Georgian|GeorgiaSkies}}
{{contradict|article|about=dates of foundation|date=April 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline        = Georgian Airways
| logo           = Georgian Airways logo.svg
| logo_size      = 
| image          = File:Airzena Boeing 737-500 Nikiforov.jpg
| caption       = A [[Boeing 737-500]] of Georgian Airways
| fleet_size     = 10
| destinations   = 16
| parent         = 
| IATA           = A9
| ICAO           = TGZ
| callsign       = TAMAZI
| founded        = 1994 (as Airzena)
| num_employees  = 
| headquarters   = [[Tbilisi, Georgia]]
| key_people     = David Gaiashvili  <br> (General Director; since 2022)
| aoc            = 
| hubs           = [[Tbilisi International Airport]]
| secondary_hubs = 
| focus_cities   = 
| frequent_flyer = 
| lounge         = 
| alliance       = 
| website        = {{URL | https://www.georgian-airways.com}}
}}

'''Georgian Airways''' ({{lang-ka|ჯორჯიან ეარვეისი|tr}}), formerly Airzena, is the privately owned [[flag carrier]] of [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], with its headquarters in [[Tbilisi]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.georgian-airways.com/en/contact/ | title=Contacts | website=Georgian Airways | access-date=2017-11-19 | archive-date=1 February 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201092137/https://www.georgian-airways.com/en/contact | url-status=dead }}</ref> Its main base is [[Tbilisi International Airport]].<ref name="FI">[[Flight International]] 3 April 2007</ref> The company filed for bankruptcy on 31 December 2021, linked to a restructuring procedure, and it has been for sale since January 2022.<ref name=forsale />

== History ==
[[File:Boeing 737-5K5, Airzena - Georgian Airways (Hapag-Lloyd) AN0361471.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Hapag Lloyd leased B737-500 (2003)]]
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 [[History of Georgia (country)#Shevardnadze presidency (1992–2003)|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 737-500]]s 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 [[2019–2020 Georgian protests|anti-Russian protests]] in June 2019, it banned all flights to and from Georgia starting 8 July 2019.<ref name="flightban" >{{cite news | url=https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-ban-on-direct-russia-georgia-flights-comes-into-force/30042902.html | title=Putin's Ban On Direct Russia-Georgia Flights Comes Into Force | date=8 July 2019 | work=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] | access-date=30 November 2021}}</ref> Georgian Airways flights to [[Vnukovo International Airport|Moscow-Vnukovo]] have since been operated by [[Aircompany Armenia]] via Yerevan. The ban was revoked by Russian president [[Vladimir Putin]] on 10 May 2023 starting 15 May and Georgian Airways announced it would then resume flights to Moscow from 20 May,<ref name="resumption">{{cite news | url=https://www.interpressnews.ge/en/article/125347-georgian-airways-to-launch-tbilisi-moscow-tbilisi-flights-from-may-20 | title=Georgian Airways to launch Tbilisi-Moscow-Tbilisi flights from May 20 | date=2023-05-16 | work=InterpressNews | access-date=2023-05-16}}</ref> with the first flight arriving in Vnukovo on that day. In response, Ukrainian president [[Volodymyr Zelensky]] imposed sanctions against the airline on 1 July.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/6081928|title=Зеленский ввел санкции против грузинской авиакомпании Georgian Airways|language=ru|date=2023-07-01|website=[[Kommersant]]}}</ref>

== Bankruptcy ==
Georgian Airways filed for bankruptcy on 31 December 2021, linked to restructuring proceedings,<ref name=bankruptcy>{{Cite web | url=https://bm.ge/ka/article/quotjorjian-earveismaquot-gakotrebareabilitaciis-procesi-daiwyo/99411/ | title=Georgian Airways has filed for Bankruptcy / Rehabilitation | date=2019-07-08 | work=Business Media Georgia | access-date=2022-02-10 |language=ka}}</ref> and the airline was put up for sale in January 2022.<ref name=forsale>{{Cite web | url=https://civil.ge/archives/467467 | title=Indebted Georgian Airways Up for Sale | date=2022-01-18 | work=Civil Georgia | access-date=2022-02-10 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://eurasianet.org/georgian-airways-files-for-insolvency-put-up-for-sale | title=Georgian Airways files for insolvency, put up for sale | date=2022-01-20 | work=Eurasianet | access-date=2022-02-10 |language=en}}</ref> The airline is in debt of {{Currency|125,000,000|GEL}} ({{Currency|52,000,000|EUR}}), against {{Currency|21,000,000|GEL}} in assets. The causes include the Russian flight ban since July 2019,<ref name="flightban" /><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/80290-georgian-airways-estimates-25mn-loss-from-russia-flight-ban | title=Georgian Airways estimates $25mn loss from Russia flight ban | date=2019-08-01 | work=Ch Aviation | access-date=2022-02-10 |language=en}}</ref> but most of all, the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] hit the airline hard. The Georgian authorities banned international air traffic for 11 months,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://agenda.ge/en/news/2021/264 | title=Georgia resumes regular flights today |date=2021-02-01 |work=Agenda.ge |access-date=2022-02-10 |language=en}}</ref> 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{{refn|name=minsknote|In practical terms the Minsk flights do not operate.}}) and a few profitable seasonal charters, while guaranteeing these flights.<ref name=bankruptcy /> Georgian Airways indicated in January 2022 that it would continue to operate the flights.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.georgian-airways.com/en/news/latest-news/attention-93 | title=Attention! | work=Georgian Airways | date=2022-01-18 | access-date=2022-02-10 | language=en | archive-date=1 February 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201025345/https://www.georgian-airways.com/en/news/latest-news/attention-93 | url-status=dead }}</ref> 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]].

{|class="sortable wikitable"
|-
!Country
!City
!Airport
!Notes
!class="unsortable"|Refs
|-
|Armenia||[[Yerevan]]||[[Zvartnots International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|
|-
|Austria||[[Vienna]]||[[Vienna International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|
|-
|Belgium||[[Brussels]]||[[Brussels Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref>{{cite news |title=Georgian Airways Resumes Brussels Service in NS24 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240202-a9ns24bru |access-date=3 February 2024 |work=AeroRoutes |date=2 February 2024 |language=en-CA}}</ref>
|-
|Cyprus||[[Larnaca]]||[[Larnaca International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|
|-
|rowspan="2"|France||[[Nice]]||[[Nice Côte d'Azur Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|
|-
|[[Paris]]||[[Charles de Gaulle Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|
|-
| rowspan="2" |Georgia||[[Batumi]]||[[Batumi International Airport]]||{{Airline focus}}||align=center|<ref name='a9_rus_23' />
|-
|[[Tbilisi]]||[[Tbilisi International Airport]]||{{Airline hub}}||align=center|
|-
|Germany||[[Berlin]]||[[Berlin Brandenburg Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|
|-
|Israel||[[Tel Aviv]]||[[David Ben Gurion Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref>{{cite press release|title=Daily Direct Flights To Tel Aviv |url=https://georgian-airways.com/en/news/daily-direct-flights-to-tel-aviv |website=georgian-airways.com |publisher=Georgian Airways |access-date=4 May 2024}}</ref><ref name="A9_TLV_767">{{cite news |last1=Liu |first1=Jim |title=Georgian Airways NS25 Boeing 767 Operations |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250218-a9ns25763 |access-date=18 February 2025 |work=AeroRoutes |date=18 February 2025 |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref name="Resume_ISR_NS25_ME">{{cite news |title=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 |url=https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/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/ |access-date=26 June 2025 |agency=A Venture of Keshan Infotech Pvt. Ltd. |publisher=Travel And Tour World |date=25 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Georgian Airways to resume Tel Aviv flights from July 2 |url=https://1tv.ge/lang/en/news/georgian-airways-to-resume-tel-aviv-flights-from-july-2/ |access-date=1 July 2025 |work=1TV |publisher=LEPL Public Broadcaster |date=1 July 2025}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|Italy||[[Bergamo]]||[[Orio al Serio International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|
|-
|[[Bologna]]||[[Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name='a9Italy'>{{cite web|title=GEORGIAN AIRWAYS NS25 ITALY NETWORK ADDITIONS|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250217-a9ns25it|website=aeroroutes.com|date=17 February 2025}}</ref>
|-
|[[Forlì]]||[[Forlì Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name='a9Italy'/>
|-
|[[Rome]]||[[Rome Fiumicino Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name='a9Italy'/>
|-
|Netherlands||[[Amsterdam]]||[[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol]]||align=center| ||align=center|
|-
|Qatar||[[Doha]]||[[Hamad International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref>{{cite web|title=Georgian Airways Lists Qatar Service Addition in 4Q25|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250827-a9nw25doh|website=aeroroutes.com|date=27 August 2025}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="3" |Russia||[[Moscow]]||[[Vnukovo International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name='a9_rus_23'>{{cite news |title=Georgian Airways Resumes 2 Russian Routes in Dec 2023 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231108-a9dec23ru |website=aeroroutes.com|date=8 November 2023}}</ref>
|-
|[[Novosibirsk]]||[[Tolmachevo Airport]]|| ||align=center|<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mammadov |first1=Ingilab |title=Georgian Airways to launch flights to another Russian city |url=https://en.trend.az/scaucasus/georgia/3936707.html |access-date=24 September 2024 |work=Trend.Az |date=24 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[Saint Petersburg]]||[[Pulkovo Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name='a9_rus_23' />
|-
|Seychelles||[[Mahé, Seychelles|Mahé]]||[[Seychelles International Airport]]||{{Terminated}}||align=center|<ref>{{cite news |last1=Liu |first1=Jim |title=Georgian Airways Nov 2024 Seychelles Charters |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240923-a9nov24sez |access-date=23 September 2024 |work=AeroRoutes |date=23 September 2024 |language=en-CA}}</ref>
|-
|}

===Partners===
Georgian Airways partners with the following airlines:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.georgian-airways.com/en/about/partners |title=Georgian Airways Partners |website=www.georgian-airways.com |access-date=10 February 2020 |archive-date=28 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328085213/https://www.georgian-airways.com/en/about/partners |url-status=dead }}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Aegean Airlines]]
* [[Air Astana]]
* [[Air Dilijans]]
* [[Air France]]
* [[Austrian Airlines]]
* [[Azerbaijan Airlines]]
* [[Delta Air Lines]]
* [[El Al]]
* [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]]
* [[Iran Air]]
* [[KLM]]
{{div col end}}

== Fleet ==
===Current fleet===
[[File:Boeing 737-76N, Georgian Airlines (AirZena) JP7640655.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4 | A Georgian Airways Boeing 737-700]]
[[File:4L-TIG Airzena Georgian Airways Boeing 737-804(SF)(WL) VGHS.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4 | A Georgian Airways Boeing 737-800F]]
{{As of|2025|8}}, Georgian Airways operates the following aircraft:<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Global Airline Guide 2025 - Georgian Airways |magazine=Airliner World |date=September 2025 |page=60}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fleet of Georgian Airways |url=https://georgian-airways.com/en/aboutus/our-fleet |access-date=27 January 2025 |website=Georgian Airways}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto;text-align:center"
|+ '''Georgian Airways fleet'''
! colspan="8" |Passenger fleet
|-
! rowspan="2" | Aircraft
! rowspan="2" style="width:60px;" | In service
! rowspan="2" style="width:25px;" | Orders
! colspan="4" |Passengers
! rowspan="2" | Notes
|-
!F
! style="width:25px;" | <abbr title="Business Class">B</abbr>
! style="width:25px;" | <abbr title="Economy Class">E</abbr>
! style="width:25px;" | Total
|-
|[[Boeing 737 Classic |Boeing 737-500]]
|1
|&mdash;
|0
|12
|104
|116
|
|-
|[[Boeing 737 Next Generation|Boeing 737-700]]
|2
|&mdash;
|0
|12
|120
|132
|
|-
|[[Boeing 737 Next Generation|Boeing 737-800]]
|3
|&mdash;
|0
|12
|168
|180
|
|-
|[[Boeing 737 Next Generation|Boeing 737-900ER]]
|1
|&mdash;
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[Bombardier CRJ200|Bombardier CRJ200LR]]
|1
|—
|0
|6
|44
|50
|Airzena
|-
|[[Boeing 767-300ER]]
|1
|&mdash;
|0
|18 
|227
|245
| Leased from [[Omni Air International]].<ref name="A9_TLV_767" /><ref name="A9_767_MUC">{{cite news |last1=Liu |first1=Jim |title=Georgian Airways 2Q25 One-Time Boeing 767 Munich Service |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250522-a92q25muc |access-date=22 May 2025 |work=AeroRoutes |date=22 May 2025 |language=en-CA}}</ref>
|-
|[[Bombardier Challenger 850]]
|1
|—
| colspan="4" |<abbr title="VIP configuration">VIP</abbr>
| For government and VIP use only
|-
!Total
!10
!0
! colspan="5" |
|}

===Former fleet===
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2024}}
The airline fleet previously included the following aircraft (inconclusive list){{Cn|date=January 2025}}
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Boeing 737 Classic|Boeing 737-300]]
* [[Boeing 737 Classic|Boeing 737-400]]
* [[Boeing 737 Classic|Boeing 737-500]]
* [[Boeing 737 Next Generation|Boeing 737-800]]{{Cn|date=October 2024}}
* [[Bombardier CRJ200|Bombardier CRJ100ER]]
* [[Embraer 190]] 
* [[Embraer 195]]
{{div col end}}

==Safety rating, accidents and incidents==
Georgian Airways has a 6/7 safety rating in AirlineRatings.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Georgian Airways - Airline Ratings |url=https://www.airlineratings.com/ratings/georgian-airways/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128000755/https://www.airlineratings.com/ratings/georgian-airways/ |archive-date=2024-01-28 |access-date= |website=www.airlineratings.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Safety Rating Criteria - Airline Ratings |url=https://www.airlineratings.com/safety-rating-criteria/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240416121222/https://www.airlineratings.com/safety-rating-criteria/ |archive-date=2024-04-16 |access-date= |website=www.airlineratings.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Morris |first=Hugh |date=2017-11-02 |title=Which airline was just voted the best in the world for the fifth year running? |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/world-best-airline-airlineratings/ |access-date=2024-10-05 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Zhang |first=Benjamin |title=These are the best airlines in the world for 2018 |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/best-airlines-2018-airlineratings-2017-11 |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>

*On 4 April 2011, [[Georgian Airways Flight 834]], a charter flight for a United Nations mission, operated by a Georgian Airways [[Bombardier CRJ200|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.<ref name=Kinshasa>{{cite web |url=https://www.icao.int/safety/airnavigation/AIG/Documents/Safety%20Recommendations%20to%20ICAO/Final%20Reports/1740456997_final_report_en.pdf |title=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 |publisher=Ministry of the Transportation and Ways of Communication |access-date=3 November 2016}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category-inline|Georgian Airways}}
* [http://www.georgian-airways.com/?l=E Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171102073358/https://www.georgian-airways.com/?l=E |date=2 November 2017 }}

{{Portal bar|Georgia (country)|Companies|Aviation}}
{{Airlines of Georgia}}
{{IATA members|cis}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Airlines established in 2004]]
[[Category:Airlines of Georgia (country)]]
[[Category:1994 establishments in Georgia (country)]]
[[Category:Brands of Georgia (country)]]