MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF GEORGIA

Mariam Kvrivishvili: The first direct flight between Tbilisi and Shanghai arrived virtually full, with a 98% load factor, which is a great success for the airline, its management, the governing team and our country

15-07-2026

“Today is a highly significant day in Georgia’s aviation industry. Many years of joint efforts have yielded into productive and tangible results,” – the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Mariam Kvrivishvili, stated in her address at the event celebrating the inaugural Tbilisi-Shanghai flight.

The historic, direct regular flight between Tbilisi and Shanghai was operated by China Eastern Airlines, one of China’s largest and leading carriers. The airline will operate direct flights three times a week: on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

In her speech, the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development noted that direct, regular air communication between Tbilisi and Shanghai represents a vital step forward that strengthens the strategic cooperation established between Georgia and China.

“This is truly another significant demonstration of what a strategic partnership means, how a strategic partnership translates into economic activity, how it translates into tourism, how it translates into direct flights, and how all of this strengthens our country’s economy. I am particularly pleased that each of us is participating in this historic day, as this is the first regular flight operated from our capital, and departing later today to Shanghai, which actually represents the longest-haul flight. I am confident that through close cooperation with our partner airline, the initial frequency of three flights per week will very soon become daily, and will eventually be operated even two or three times a day,” – Mariam Kvrivishvili noted.

The decision to launch direct flights between Shanghai and Tbilisi was reached during a meeting between the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Mariam Kvrivishvili, and the executives of the Chinese airline China Eastern Airlines, which took place in April of this year during the Minister’s official visit to the People's Republic of China.

In her speech, the Minister pointed out that the operation of direct flights between Tbilisi and Shanghai by China Eastern Airlines would serve as a prerequisite for further strengthening their commercial operations.

“We are confident that the launch of their operations in Georgia will further strengthen their commercial activities, and I am certain that through our joint efforts, we will see even more flights from even more destinations to our country. It was particularly gratifying for me that the Tbilisi-Shanghai flight arrived virtually full, with a 98% load factor, which is a tremendous success for the airline, its management, its governing team, and I believe, also a major success for our country. This is highly likely and largely the result of the active marketing campaigns that our government, and in this case, the National Tourism Administration, is conducting in China. An annual investment of 7 million GEL is being made to raise awareness of Georgia as an attractive tourist destination in China,” – Mariam Kvrivishvili said.

The event dedicated to the inaugural flight was attended by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Georgia, Zhou Qian, the Vice President of China Eastern Airlines, He Xiaoqun and representatives of the Georgian aviation and airport sectors.

The Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development expressed her gratitude to the Chinese Ambassador to Georgia.

“I would like to extend special thanks to the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China, who has made an immense contribution to connecting our two countries even closer during his tenure in our country. Today is also symbolic, because thanks to your efforts and support, we are celebrating this milestone day together,” – Mariam Kvrivishvili remarked in her speech.

 

 

 

 

 

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