TBILISI, April 24 – Georgia has opened talks on adding more direct flights with China, including a possible new Tbilisi-Shanghai route, as trade and travel between the two countries continue to grow.
The Georgian Economy Ministry said active negotiations have been under way for several months with Chinese airlines over the launch of regular flights on the Shanghai-Tbilisi-Shanghai route. Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili, who is visiting China with a delegation, is expected to hold another round of talks with airlines on the issue, as reported by Interpressnews.
Georgia and China have developed a broad-ranging cooperation in recent years. A free trade agreement has been in force since 2018, lifting trade turnover by 148% from 2017 till 2025, according to ministry figures. There is also visa-free travel for ordinary passport holders since 2024, and Chinese companies have also been involved in major infrastructure work in Georgia, including motorway and tunnel projects linked to the country’s role as a regional transit route.
According to the ministry, the push for more air links reflects the broader growth in these broader economic ties, the ministry said, adding that the visa-free travel agreement helped boost both air traffic and tourism flows, citing new data showing that visitor numbers from China rose 49% in the first quarter of 2026. The ministry argued that this shows the need for expanded air service.
