JUNE 2 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – The number of people travelling by air directly between Tbilisi and Moscow has risen by 65%, Georgia’s government said. Georgia and Russia have only recently re-started direct flights between the countries. The data shows just how important an air-link is between the two capitals for trade and tourism.
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(News report from Issue No. 234, published on June 4 2015)
DEC. 3 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said it had lent Kazakhstan’s flagship airline Air Astana $14m for the construction of an aircraft maintenance facility. The new facility will be built at Astana International Airport. Air Astana is the region’s biggest airline. Britain’s BAE Systems owns a 49% stake. Samruk-Kazyna owns 51%.
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(News report from Issue No. 260, published on Dec. 11 2015)
MAY 21 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Direct Tbilisi-Tehran flights will begin next month, media reported quoting Tbilisi mayor David Narmania. The launch of a direct route between Tbilisi and Tehran highlights the growing links between the two countries. Tehran’s mayor Mohammad Bagher was visiting Tbilisi to sign a twinning agreement.
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(News report from Issue No. 233, published on May 28 2015)
APRIL 23 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Georgia has been negotiating with several low-cost airlines — including Ryanair, EasyJet and Air Berlin — to fly to Tbilisi, media reported quoting deputy economy minister Ketevan Bochorishvili. Tourism is a major source of income for Georgia.
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(News report from Issue No. 229, published on April 29 2015)
APRIL 21 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Russia has delivered four Su-30SM fighter jets to Kazakhstan, media reported, part of a major overhaul of the Kazakh air force. By 2020, reports said, Kazakhstan is planning on buying another 32 fighter jets from Russia. Kazakhstan has spent billions upgrading its military.
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(News report from Issue No. 228, published on April 22 2015)
MARCH 30 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Air Baltic, based in Riga, and Uzbekistan Airways have announced a planned codeshare on a route to New York, media reported. The deal matches Uzbekistan Airway’s aspirations to increase its various service.
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(News report from Issue No. 225, published on April 12015)
MARCH 30 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Elbit Cyclone, a subsidiary of Israel’s Elbit Systems, plans to build a factory in Georgia that will produce parts for passenger planes, media reported quoting Georgian economy minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili.
This is an important development for industry in Georgia as it represents a potential shift to a more hi-tech focus. Reports did not say what parts specifically the Georgian factory would produce for Elbit Cyclone, although all the factory output will be for export, but they did say the longer-term aim was to develop a hi-tech industrial sector.
The $85m cost of the project will be shared by the Georgian government and Elbit Cyclone. The factory will also employ 300 people.
And Elbit Systems already has a link with Georgia.
Prior to its 2008 war with Russia, Georgia bought several spy planes from the company. Elbit Systems is the largest publicly-traded military equipment manufacturer in Israel.
lbit Systems also makes technical equipment for the US military.
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(News report from Issue No. 225, published on April 12015)
MARCH 19 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Prosecutors in France have charged Jean-Francois Etienne des Rosaies, an ex-presidential adviser, with corruption over a 2010 deal to sell 295 trains and 45 helicopters to Kazakhstan, AFP reported. Media said he was the fourth person to be charged in connection with the deal.
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(News report from Issue No. 224, published on March 25 2015)
MARCH 17 2015 (The Bulletin) – Turkmenistan airlines have signed a deal with Lithuania’s FL Technics to provide maintenance for its fleet of five Boeing passenger jets, media reported. Turkmenistan Airlines has been trying to boost its fleet and international image.
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(News report from Issue No. 223, published on March 18 2015)
MARCH 17 2015 (The Bulletin) – Air Armenia, Armenia’s only major passenger airline, has delayed re-starting services, media quoted head of marketing, Sirakan Hambardzumyan, as saying. Air Armenia’s suspended flights in October last year because of a cash flow problem. It had been due to resume flights in March.
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(News report from Issue No. 223, published on March 18 2015)