Georgia’s national carrier, Georgian Airways, will begin operating regular flights between Tbilisi and Batumi on June 25, offering passengers a faster travel option during the summer season.

The service will run throughout the summer navigation period, with flights scheduled four times a week - on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, The Caspian Post reports, citing Georgian media.

Boeing 737 aircraft will be used on the route, with a flight time of approximately 45 minutes.

The timetable is primarily aimed at weekend travelers visiting Georgia’s Black Sea coast. Flights will depart from Tbilisi at 09:00, while return services from Batumi are scheduled for 19:30.

Despite the significant reduction in travel time, air travel remains the most expensive option on the route. One-way tickets are priced between 343 and 419 Georgian lari (around $131-$158).

By comparison, rail travel between Tbilisi and Batumi costs 36 lari in economy class and 76 lari in business class, with a journey time of about five hours. Bus tickets are available for roughly 45 lari ($17), while the trip takes between six and seven hours.