The Georgian government has decided to partially close the airspace over Abastumani, a resort town and home to an astrophysical observatory. The new “Abastumani-2” zone, with a diameter of approximately 52 km, closes off about 2,000 sq km to passenger and cargo aircraft.
Officially, the restrictions are explained by the need to ensure clear skies for the observatory’s observations. However, sources from the aviation industry and government agencies cited by the Georgian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) believe the restrictions are linked to the personal interests of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili in developing the territory, where he has maintained a residence since 2020.
The zone fully covers Abastumani, the Adigeni district, and part of Southern Georgia, significantly narrowing the maneuvering space for international routes between Europe and Asia. The closure will take effect on April 16, 2026.
“The zone, which extends from Georgia’s southern border deep into the country, will shift air traffic to the north, which is less convenient for airlines. Longer routes, increased flight times, and higher fuel consumption—while these may seem minor for a single flight, the figures become quite substantial over many flights and many days.
All of this will gradually make flights from Georgian airports more expensive and, ultimately, impact the pockets of every passenger. Many airlines may stop using Georgian airspace for transit due to increased costs, rerouting through Turkey or seeking other alternatives,” an anonymous source from a government agency told RFE/RL.
Abastumani is known for its unique astro-climatic transparency, which led to the establishment of the first high-altitude astrophysical observatory in the USSR there in 1932.