As reported by the Russian agency RIA Novosti, citing Georgian Airways, A significant expansion of the list of foreign flights from Moscow via Tbilisi was announced. The new routes will make it easier for Russians to travel to Europe.
According to data published on the website of Georgian Airways, travelers traveling from Moscow via the capital of Georgia will soon be able to fly to the following countries: Austria (Graz), Germany (Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main), Italy (Naples), Netherlands (Amsterdam), France (Nancy) and Israel (Tel Aviv) and Saudi Arabia (Juf, Dammam).
Ticket sales for some of these locations have not yet begun.
In May, the founder of Georgian Airlines, Tamaz Gaiashvili, officially announced the launch of flights to Europe for Russian tourists. According to his statement, From June 15, Russians will have the opportunity to travel to five attractive European cities with a transfer only in Tbilisi. These are the routes: Moscow – Tbilisi – Milan (Italy), Moscow – Tbilisi – Paris (France), Moscow – Tbilisi – Vienna (Austria), Moscow – Tbilisi – Larnaca (Cyprus) and Moscow – Tbilisi – Thessaloniki (Greece).
The expansion of Russian flights through Tbilisi is bad news and another ill-conceived step towards making it easier for Russians to travel to Europe.
The ban on flights to Georgia, introduced for Russian airlines in June 2019, was lifted on May 10 this year by order of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and on May 15 the visa system for Georgian citizens entering Russia was abolished.
Direct flights to Georgia were canceled by Russia in 2019. Flights since then took place, for example, through Armenia, where the planes landed technically and the passengers did not leave the board..
Russia introduced visas for Georgian citizens in 2000, followed by authorities in Tbilisi. After the Russian-Georgian war over South Ossetia, Tbilisi cut diplomatic ties with Moscow, but in 2012 it returned visa-free to the Russian government.
Source: RIA Novosti