Russian Firm to Operate and Invest $100 Million in Abkhazia Airport

The Republic of Abkhazia and Russian airport operator, Novaport agreed on July 22 on a deal for Novaport to operate the airport in Sukhum, Abkhazia.  The deal involves an expected investment of $100 million.  Novaport believes that the airport will see 250,000 passengers by 2015.  It is viewed as an alternative airport for the 2014 Winter Olympics to Sochi/Adler.  The airport in Sukhum has the longest runway in the Caucasus region.  I was told by an airport development expert in 2010 that Sukhum's airport is ideally situated geographically and because of its length to be an important transportation hub for flights not only to and from Russia, but also North America, Europe, Central Asia, the Persian Gulf and the Caucasus.  

This is welcome news and because the redevelopment of the airport makes Abkhazia more accessible, it will also make the country more attractive for other commercial development.  Currently, tourists come by car, bus, train or fly to Sochi/Adler and cross the border into Abkhazia.  Just this summer, the rail line was rebuilt and passenger service was reinstated from Russia to Sukhum.