Tbilisi International Airport has welcomed its first regular long-haul flight from Shanghai. The new route was launched by Chinese airline China Eastern Airlines, which operates flights on a wide-body Airbus A330.
The first flight from China's largest city brought 274 passengers to the Georgian capital, and 283 people used the return direction. In honor of the route's launch, an official ceremony was held at the airport with the participation of representatives of the Georgian government, the Chinese Embassy, TAV Georgia, and the management of China Eastern Airlines.
Now, direct air communication between Georgia and China is provided by three Chinese carriers. They operate a total of 13 flights per week, connecting Tbilisi with Shanghai, Beijing, and Urumqi.
China Eastern Airlines will fly the Shanghai — Tbilisi — Shanghai route three times a week: on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The flight time from Tbilisi is about nine hours, and the return flight takes approximately ten hours.
TAV Georgia stated that they continue to work with the Georgian authorities to attract new airlines and expand the international route network. The launch of the flight from Shanghai should strengthen tourist, business, and trade ties between the two countries.