newstodate.aero

Dec 05, 2023 (newstodate): Georgia is closing 2023 with a record-high number of air passengers handled at its airports.
   Expectations are now that the Georgian airports will be handling some five million passengers, with 4.7 mio already registered in the first 10 months of the year.
   Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Georgia saw some three mio passengers, rising to 3.7 mio in 2022 that was the so far highest number, already beaten.
  The increase is due to more foreign airlines operating flights between Europe and Georgia - but even more significantly, the growth in passenger traffic a consequence of Russia's war on Ukraine, turning Armenia into a transit hub for Russians on their way to European countries in a period when direct flights by Russian airlines are banned by international sanctions.
   So at the same time that Armenia is seeking access to EU and even NATO membership, the country is benefiting hugely from the situation.