Telavi Air Base

The air base ceased major military operations following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Air Force units stationed there were withdrawn or disbanded. The newly independent Republic of Georgia lacked the economic resources and military structure to maintain and operate such a large and sophisticated air base, leading to its gradual abandonment and decay throughout the 1990s.

The site has been partially renovated and repurposed as a civilian airfield. It is now officially known as Telavi Erekle II Airport (თელავის ერეკლე II-ის სახელობის აეროპორტი), though it is often colloquially called 'Mimino Airport'. The runway and basic infrastructure have been restored. It is not currently serving scheduled commercial passenger flights but is actively used for pilot training by the Georgian Aviation University, as well as for general aviation, private charter flights, and tourism-related activities like sightseeing flights over the Kakheti region.

During the Cold War, Telavi Air Base was a significant forward operating base for the Soviet Air Force, part of the Transcaucasian Military District. It was home to the 1st Guards Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (1-й гвардейский авиационный полк истребителей-бомбардировщиков), which operated Sukhoi Su-17 (NATO reporting name: 'Fitter') ground-attack aircraft. Its strategic location was crucial for projecting Soviet power towards Turkey (a NATO member) and the Middle East. The base is also culturally significant in the post-Soviet space as it was famously featured in the iconic 1977 Soviet comedy film 'Mimino', where the protagonist is a helicopter pilot flying local routes from Telavi.

There are strong and ongoing prospects for its full reopening as a regional airport. The Georgian government has invested in its reconstruction with the stated goal of boosting tourism in the Kakheti wine region. The plan is to eventually handle domestic flights from other Georgian airports like Batumi and Kutaisi, and potentially small international charter flights from neighboring countries. While the primary infrastructure is in place, a definitive timeline for the commencement of regular, scheduled commercial services has not been finalized and is subject to further investment and market development.