Signakhi Airport

Economic collapse and systemic change following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Like many small regional airports across the former USSR, Signakhi Airport's operations were heavily subsidized by the central government. With the end of these subsidies and the severe economic downturn in newly independent Georgia, the local air network became financially unsustainable, leading to the airport's abandonment.

The airport is completely abandoned and non-operational. Its single asphalt runway remains largely intact but is in a state of severe decay, with numerous cracks, potholes, and vegetation growth. The apron and any associated buildings, such as a small terminal or service hangars, are derelict and crumbling. The site is not secured and is informally used by local residents for activities such as cattle grazing, driving practice, or simply as open land. It has no aviation infrastructure or services.

During the Soviet era, Signakhi Airport was an important local air hub for the Kakheti region, Georgia's primary wine-producing area. It facilitated regional connectivity, primarily handling domestic passenger traffic on small propeller-driven aircraft like the Antonov An-2 and possibly small jets like the Yakovlev Yak-40. These flights connected the towns of Tsnori and the popular tourist destination of Signakhi with Tbilisi and other cities within the Georgian SSR. Beyond passenger transport, the airport played a crucial role in agricultural aviation, supporting the region's vast vineyards with services like crop dusting and aerial surveys.

There are no known specific plans to reopen or rehabilitate Signakhi Airport. The Georgian government has expressed strong interest in improving air access to the Kakheti region to boost tourism. However, official plans announced in 2024 are focused on building a new international airport at the site of the former Telavi Erekle II Airport, which is located more centrally in the region. As government resources and strategic focus are directed towards the Telavi project, the prospects for the Signakhi/Tsnori airfield being revived are considered extremely low.