ADVERTISEMENTWith its mosaic of cultures and delicious cuisine, the Georgian capital of Tbilisi is an increasingly popular holiday destination.
But a lack of direct flights from London - meaning more than 8-hour-long journeys - are an off-putting factor for some Brits.
Catering to the growing appetite for Georgian holidays, British Airways and easyJet have now announced direct flights to the transcontinental country.
Flag carrier BA is launching flights from London Heathrow to Tbilisi from 30 March 2025, with the budget carrier hot on its heels from London Luton as of 1 April.
“We are proud that flagship carrier British Airways has decided to enter the Georgian market, which is important recognition for our country,” says Mariam Kvrivishvili, deputy minister of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia.
“This will significantly boost Georgia’s awareness within the UK market and improve connectivity with the USA, which is a strategic partner country of Georgia.”
How do BA and easyJet flights from London to Tbilisi compare?
British Airways will operate four flights a week from 30 March throughout the summer season - double that of arch-rival easyJet which is operating twice weekly flights from April.
Return flights with BA from London Heathrow start at £275 (€327) with baggage and seat fees on top. Further deals are available for holiday packages.
“We’re delighted to welcome Tbilisi back into our route network, after our last scheduled service in 2013,” says Neil Chernoff, British Airways’ chief planning and strategy officer.
“We expect this to be a popular route with the leisure market, which has seen a strong comeback since 2019, as well as with those looking to enjoy direct flights to visit friends and family.”
For easyJet, this is the first time the carrier is flying to the Georgian capital.
Flights will run twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays throughout the summer season. At the time of writing, a single ticket on the inaugural departing flight costs €114 with baggage and seat fees on top.
Direct flights will take around 5 hours. It’s good news for Brits wanting to expand their horizons in the Caucasus, and also opens up new connections for travellers elsewhere.
BA says its flight times will lend themselves to onward connections to US destinations such as New York.
While EasyJet is also launching new routes to Tbilisi from Geneva and Milan Malpensa.
ADVERTISEMENTWhy is Georgia a popular destination?
With one foothold in Eastern Europe and another in West Asia, Georgia is renowned for its intriguing blend of medieval and Soviet culture.
The country proudly lays claim to being the birthplace of wine, with an 8,000-year-old history of winemaking and many delightful places to sample it.
Located on the banks of the Mtkvari River, surrounded by hills and the Cacasus Mountains to the north, Tbilisi offers a unique city break.
Wandering around the cobbled streets is an activity in itself, with plenty of other options in our full guide to Tbilisi here.
ADVERTISEMENTBA notes that the canyons and caves near Kutaisi and multiple UNESCO World heritage sites are also within easy reach of Tbilisi for adventurous visitors to Georgia.