Why flights matter to a Batumi buyer
For owners who live abroad, and for the guests who rent their flats, Batumi is only as close as its flights. A flat that is easy to reach from Tel Aviv, Istanbul or Moscow fills more easily than one that needs two connections and a long drive. And because many routes are seasonal, access in February is very different from access in August.
This guide explains which cities fly to Batumi in summer and winter, how traffic has grown, how to get from the airport into town, and the alternatives through Kutaisi, Tbilisi and the Turkish border. For the area around the airport itself, see our guide to the airport direction.
The airport in brief
Batumi International Airport lies about 5 km south-west of the city, and the operator, TAV Georgia, puts the centre within 15 minutes by car. The official aeronautical publication lists all services around the clock and a single runway, designated 12/30, of 2,500 m by 45 m. The terminal was doubled to about 8,000 m² in 2021; in summer 2026 about 1,000 m² more was being added, which the government said would raise capacity by up to about 22 to 25%. In February 2026 the operator also presented plans for a new terminal, without a published cost or date.
Snow can still interrupt flights: in February 2025 the airport closed for two days before reopening on 26 February.
How traffic has grown
| Year | Passengers |
|---|---|
| 2019 | about 624,000 |
| 2020 | 51,412 |
| 2023 | 621,514 |
| 2024 | about 952,000 |
| 2025 | about 1,230,000 |
Traffic in 2025 was about double 2019, by our calculation. The year 2026 started weaker: the first quarter carried 115,785 passengers, 25.6% fewer than a year before, after disruption to Middle Eastern traffic from March. TAV reported recovery from June, with passenger numbers across its two Georgian airports up 10% in July and 7% in September 2026; it does not publish Batumi separately. In July 2026 Batumi handled 906 flights, 31% more than a year earlier.
Where passengers come from
The operator's 2026 brochure breaks down Batumi's passengers in 2025 by market: Israel 36%, Russia 26%, Turkey 17%, other former Soviet countries 9%, other Middle Eastern countries 6%, Iran 3%, Azerbaijan 2% and the United Arab Emirates 1%. Israel, Russia and Turkey together made up about 79%. That year 26 airlines flew to 29 destinations.
For a seller or landlord, this mix is worth knowing: guests and buyers come mainly from these three markets, and a sharp change in any of them, such as the Middle East disruption in spring 2026, shows up quickly in Batumi's numbers.
Which cities fly to Batumi
Most foreign routes are seasonal. Looking at the airport's departure board on the first days of the winter schedule, from 24 to 27 October 2026, we counted between 9 and 18 departures a day, to these destinations:
| Destination | Airlines seen |
|---|---|
| Tel Aviv | El Al, Arkia, Israir |
| Istanbul | Turkish Airlines, Pegasus |
| Moscow and other Russian cities | Red Wings, Azimuth |
| Minsk | Belavia |
| Yerevan and Chisinau | FlyOne |
| Tbilisi | Georgian Airways (seen on 24 October) |
Tel Aviv was the busiest link, with several flights a day, and Turkish Airlines flew to Istanbul daily. A few days are only a sample, so check current schedules before planning. In summer the list grows: in 2026 Georgian Airways added flights to Tbilisi and Moscow four times a week each from 25 June, FlyArystan flew from Astana and Aktau from June to August, Air Cairo ran a weekly charter from Cairo from 30 June to 22 September, and the new Georgian airline OneClick began flights to Tel Aviv in July. Gulf carriers have historically flown in summer only, and none appeared on the board in late October.
We found no direct Wizz Air flight to Batumi. Wizz Air flies to Kutaisi, so many European visitors arrive that way.
The summer timetable in more detail
The airport's route list grows sharply between June and September. Flight listings mark many links as seasonal: flights from Tel Aviv by several Israeli airlines, from Dubai by flydubai, from Saudi cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, from Kuwait, from Almaty and Astana in Kazakhstan, from Tashkent, from Riga and from a long list of Russian cities served by Red Wings. Routes come and go from year to year: in 2024, for example, Red Wings added summer flights from Sochi, Kazan and Ufa, and in 2026 four airlines added new summer services.
For an owner, the practical point is that the guest mix in July and August is far wider than in winter, which helps fill flats in the peak months. In the quiet season, the market narrows to the few countries with flights all year, so winter pricing should be set with those guests in mind.
Inside the terminal
According to the operator, the terminal has 14 check-in counters and 6 bus gates after its 2021 expansion, and the airport was named among the best airports in Eastern Europe in 2025 by Skytrax. A travel guide updated in October 2026 notes cash machines, currency exchange desks and mobile operators' SIM card desks in the arrivals hall, which makes it easy for guests to get a local number for ride-hailing apps on arrival.
Kutaisi, Tbilisi and Trabzon
When there is no direct flight, three gateways serve Batumi:
- Kutaisi: about 150 km away. The national tourism administration says the train from Kutaisi to Batumi takes less than two hours and costs GEL 30 to 70, and a direct bus from the airport takes about three hours and costs about GEL 25. In the first quarter of 2026 Kutaisi airport handled 386,238 passengers, more than three times Batumi. Bus companies also run from Kutaisi airport to Batumi several times a day, with fares listed by booking sites at roughly USD 9 to 14.
- Tbilisi: Georgian Railway cut the train journey between Tbilisi and Batumi to about four hours in August 2026 after rebuilding the line.
- Trabzon, Turkey: about 187 km by road from Trabzon to the Sarpi border, roughly 2 hours 40 minutes by car, with buses running on to Batumi; border waiting times vary.
From the airport into town
City bus No. 10 stops in front of the terminal and takes about 20 minutes to the centre. Under the city council's fares in force since February 2026, a trip costs GEL 0.70 with a transport card; the airport's own website still shows an older fare. A travel guide updated in October 2026 says the bus runs every 10 to 15 minutes, a reusable card costs GEL 2 in the departures hall, and the last bus leaves the airport around 22:00, so check before a late arrival.
Taxis wait outside the terminal, and the same guide puts a ride-hailing trip to the centre at about GEL 12. Several car rental desks operate in the terminal, and the operator lists rental and taxi services around the clock and 220 parking spaces.
Visas and insurance
Citizens of about 90 countries can stay in Georgia without a visa for up to a year; our guide to the visa-free stay lists the rules. Since 1 January 2026, every foreign tourist entering Georgia must hold health and accident insurance with cover of at least GEL 30,000 for the whole stay, shown on entry in print or electronically, according to the foreign ministry. A few groups, such as holders of diplomatic passports, are exempt.
What this means for owners
- Peak demand follows the timetable: in 2025 the airport handled about 40,000 passengers in February and about 213,000 in August, according to TAV.
- Winter guests come mainly from Israel, Turkey and Russia, the markets with year-round flights.
- Convenience sells: a flat on bus route No. 10 or close to Batumi Central station is easier to reach for guests without a car.
- Watch the news: route launches and suspensions affect bookings within weeks.
Flights to Batumi: pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Airport 15 minutes from the centre | Many routes summer-only |
| Year-round flights to Tel Aviv and Istanbul | No Wizz Air or other big European low-cost airline |
| Traffic about double 2019 | Exposed to shocks in a few markets |
| Bus to town for GEL 0.70 | Last bus around 22:00 |
| Faster train from Tbilisi since 2026 | Snow can close the airport for days |
To be added by the team: photos for the team to take: the terminal front with bus No. 10, the arrivals hall desks, a departures board in winter, Batumi Central station, and the Kutaisi airport bus stop.
Planning travel to a Batumi flat step by step
Check direct routes
For the season you will travel.
Compare Kutaisi and Tbilisi
Flights plus train or bus.
Buy the insurance
At least GEL 30,000 of cover.
Plan the transfer
Bus No. 10, taxi app or rental car.
Watch the last bus
Around 22:00 from the airport.
Tell guests clearly
How to reach the flat from each gateway.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Batumi airport from the centre?
About 5 to 6 km; around 15 minutes by car or 20 by bus No. 10.
Which cities have direct flights in winter?
In late October 2026: Tel Aviv, Istanbul, several Russian cities, Minsk, Yerevan and Chisinau.
Does Wizz Air fly to Batumi?
We found no direct Wizz Air route; it flies to Kutaisi, about 150 km away.
How many passengers does the airport handle?
About 1.23 million in 2025, about double 2019.
How much is the bus from the airport?
GEL 0.70 a trip with a transport card under the 2026 city fares.
Is the airport open at night?
The official aeronautical publication lists its services around the clock.
How long is the train from Tbilisi?
About four hours since August 2026.
Do visitors need insurance?
Yes: from 1 January 2026, cover of at least GEL 30,000 for the whole stay.
Sources
- Batumi aerodrome, aeronautical information publication, Sakaeronavigatsia
- Batumi Alexander Kartveli International Airport 2026, TAV Airports
- Batumi International Airport, Wikipedia, citing Civil Aviation Agency data (accessed 27 October 2026)
- Investor bulletin, July 2026, TAV Airports, and Adjara visitors and flights in 2026, International Investment, 11 September 2026
- Batumi departures board, Avionio (accessed 27 October 2026)
- Georgian Airways adds Batumi service, AeroRoutes, 16 June 2026, and FlyArystan summer 2026, AeroRoutes, 23 April 2026
- Direct flights between Cairo and Batumi, Front News, 3 April 2026, and OneClick Airways begins flights to Tel Aviv, Caliber, 11 July 2026
- How to get from Kutaisi to Batumi, Georgian National Tourism Administration, and Newslines, 24 August 2026, European Rail Timetable
- Kutaisi airport to Batumi buses, CheckMyBus, and summer routes, AeroRoutes (accessed 27 October 2026)
- Trabzon to Sarp, Rome2Rio (accessed 27 October 2026)
- Batumi City Council Resolution No 9 of 30 January 2026 on bus fares, Legislative Herald of Georgia, and Batumi airport to the city centre, Wander-Lush (13 October 2026)
- Mandatory insurance for travellers to Georgia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 27 December 2025
- Air traffic resumes at Batumi airport, First Channel, 26 February 2025, and airport expansion plan, First Channel, 19 February 2026
Change log
- - Data page published from the aeronautical information publication, TAV Airports, Wikipedia, International Investment, Avionio, AeroRoutes, Front News, Caliber, the Georgian National Tourism Administration, European Rail Timetable, Rome2Rio, Batumi City Council, Wander-Lush, the foreign ministry and First Channel.