12 new directions to Europe, Georgia responds to Russia’s flight ban

Wizz Air, a Hungarian low-cost airline, has added 12 new directions to Europe from Georgia, a step which comes shortly after the announcement of Russian President Vladimir Putin that no direct flights will be carried out between Georgia and Russia after July 8.

Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava stated on Wednesday that several months of intense negotiations ended successfully and a deal was signed with Wizz Air on additional flights.

The airline is scheduled to launch flights to Frankfurt (Germany), Hamburg (Germany), Baden-Baden (Germany), Poznan (Poland), Venice (Italy), Naples (Italy), Pisa (Italy), Nice (France), Stockholm (Sweden), Nuremberg (Germany), Heraklion (Greece) and Turku (Finland).

Seven of the routes will be launched by the end of 2019 (Poznan, Hamburg, Naples, Venice, Pisa, Frankfurt and Baden-Baden), while the remaining will be added in the summer of 2020.

“This is a unique opportunity to host more tourists from Europe. For the first time in our history, we will have direct flights to Finland and Sweden. As you know, there is a high interest towards Georgia from the Scandinavian countries, and now we will be able to host tourists from those counties,” Turnava said.

Wizz Air has been operating in Georgia, carrying out flights from the country’s western town of Kutaisi, since 2016.

Putin announced plans to ban flights to Georgia on June 21 after several Russian MPs, who came to Georgia to attend the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy on June 19, were forced to leave the Georgian parliament and the country on the next day amid harsh public protest, throwing them glasses and other items.

Putin ordered the “temporary suspension” of flights after July 8 and instructed the government to help Russian citizens, who are now in Georgia, return to their country.

Russian tour agencies are not allowed to organise travels to Georgia.

Georgia appeared in Russian tourist packages only last year after Georgia and Russia restored trade-economic ties in 2013.

Economic expert Giorgi Isakadze says that a Russian tourist averagely spends 1,350 GEL in Georgia, which is lower than the spending of tourists from developed countries [for instance Americans and Britons spend more than 3,000 GEL at average].

Russia says that the flights will be restored “when Russophobic Hysteria” ends in Georgia.

A large-scale campaign has been launched on the internet - #traveltoGeorgia, with thousands of people urging their compatriots and others visit the country.