Tbilisi (GBC) – Air China, the flag carrier of the country, has officially launched operations in the Georgian airline market, the United Airports of Georgia said on Monday.

The airline completed its inaugural flight from Urumqi to Tbilisi International Airport in the Georgian capital late last night, carrying 98 passengers on a Boeing 737-800.

In a return flight, 121 travellers departed Tbilisi  for China, the body added.

The launch was celebrated with a special reception - organised by TAV Georgia, the company operating the Tbilisi airport - for the first passengers and airline representatives.

This development follows the recent implementation of visa-free travel between the two countries, which the United Airports said had spurred interest from Chinese airlines in expanding routes to Georgia.

Vako Chilashvili, the Head of the Commercial Department of the UAG, said the company, “one of the largest” Chinese airlines, would operate flights between Urumqi and Tbilisi three times a week, with a potential for increased frequency “based on demand”.

“The airline is exploring the possibility of direct flights between the capitals of China and Georgia. Air China is the second [Chinese] airline operating in the Georgian air market, following China Southern”, he added.

The United Airports noted about 66,485 tourists had travelled from China to Georgia between January and September.