The FINANCIAL — Batumi Airport, managed by TAV Urban Georgia, served 5,270 international and domestic passengers in December 2009.
Representatives of the top management of TAV Urban Georgia told The FINANCIAL that in winter 2009 Batumi Airport served the largest number of passengers in its entire history.
The total number of domestic and international passengers of TAV Urban Georgia having arrived and departed from Tbilisi airport is 702,372. 343,859 passengers arrived and 358,513 departed. The total number of transit passengers is 670.
As for Batumi airport, in 2009 it served in total 69,935 international and domestic passengers. The number of arrival passengers is 34,318 and total number of departed passengers – 35,617.
During the summer 2009 season TAV Urban Batumi served 29,874 international and domestic passengers. The number of departed passengers was 14,968 and number of arrivals 14,906.
In 2008 the total number of passengers that departed from and arrived at the Georgian airport was 712,166.
“A lot happened in both airports this year. In 2009 we had hundreds of satisfied customers and positive responses, and this is the best result for us. Despite some economic knockbacks, that took place not only in the region but in the whole world, we hope that the industry will be dynamic and prosperous,” representatives of TAV Urban Georgia declare.
“In 2010 we expect air traffic to increase by around 15-20%. Dedication to continual improvement allows us to move forward together with our partners in our joint goal of providing the finest service in Tbilisi and Batumi airports. These are challenging times, as oil prices remain volatile and the global economy is still recovering. It is essential to realize our shared vision of a streamlined air transport enterprise where airlines, airports and other partners work together to serve customers in a safe, sustainable, efficient and environmentally responsible way,” says management of TAV Urban Georgia.
Officials of TAV Urban Georgia declare that in 2010 they will not increase taxes.
Four Turkish companies jointly own TAV Georgia – Tepe İnşaat Sanayi A.Ş, Tepe, Akfen İnşaat Turizm ve Ticaret A.Ş, Akfen and Urban Insaat Sanayi ve Ticaret AS, Urban, with 30% each and Sera Yapı Endüstrisi ve Ticaret Ltd. Şti, Sera, a private investment company, holding the balance 10%.
TAV Urban Georgia LLC, TAV Georgia, holds an 11.5-year concession, from January 2006, from the Tbilisi International Airport Joint Stock Company to design, finance, construct, maintain, and operate Tbilisi International Airport (TIA). TAV Georgia has the option to extend the concession period by an additional five years by designing, constructing and financing but not operating the upgrade of the Batumi International Airport for approximately 15 million USD.
The total project cost of Tbilisi International Airport was 77 million USD. EBRD launched a senior loan of 25.9 million USD to TAV Urban Georgia. The project was co-financed with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) who provided a senior loan of 27 million USD.
In July 2009 TAV Urban Georgia was fined 50 million GEL by the Revenue Service under the Ministry of Finance. But recently it was reported that Georgian authorities reduced tax fine imposed on TAV to 1.5 million EUR.
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