British Airways Pulls Out from Georgia

British Airways Tbilisi office announced on March 22 that the company pulls out from the country.

“In spite of the ongoing and resolute efforts of the British Embassy in Georgia, the British Government, the new Georgian Government and British Mediterranean Airways to resolve the situation, the Georgian Civil Aviation Authorities remained determined to obstruct the resumption of air services between Georgia and the United Kingdom by British Mediterranean Airways [franchise partner to British Airways],” a statement issued by the company’s Tbilisi office reads.

As a result of the decision to suspend services to Georgia for the foreseeable future the British Airways office in Tbilisi will cease trading on the 31st of March 2004.

Georgian authorities canceled flight license to the British company, which was conducting London-Tbilisi flights two times a week, last April.

The Georgian side explains cancellation of the flight license with unpaid taxes, inadequate legal basis and unsolved disputes with the Georgian flagship company Airzena.
 
“During the period the British Airways has been prevented from operating an air service between Tbilisi and London the reason given by the Georgian Civil Aviation Administration has consistently changed. The latest request has been for an exceptionally high number of documents including some that are not permitted under the Air Service Agreement, the International Treaty that governs air services between Georgia and the United Kingdom,” the British Airways statement reads. 

“The British Airways believes it has done everything possible to facilitate a return but the requirements kept changing thus preventing the company from resuming flights.”

It was reported last year that the company had a problem with the Taxation Department. However, the company representatives dismissed these allegations, saying that the company totally abided with the laws and regulations of the countries to which it operated. 

 “It is with deep regret that we have been forced to close our cooperation in Georgia. I sincerely hope that in time an improved business environment will present itself allowing air services to be restored,” Des Hetherington, Chief Executive of British Mediterranean Airways said.