Kutaisi International Airport (KUT): Georgia's Budget Gateway

Kutaisi International Airport — officially David the Builder Kutaisi International Airport, named for the medieval Georgian king who founded Gelati Monastery and consolidated the unified Georgian kingdom — is the country's second international airport, in Georgia, the country in the South Caucasus, and the primary gateway for budget-airline travel into the country. It handles a substantial share of Georgia's international passenger traffic, driven largely by the low-cost carrier routes that have made it the most affordable point of entry for travelers arriving from Europe.

What is Kutaisi International Airport?

Kutaisi International Airport (IATA code KUT) is Georgia's main budget-airline gateway, about 14–20 km west of Kutaisi in the Imereti region of western Georgia. It's best known as a base for the low-cost carrier Wizz Air, which connects it to more than 20 destinations across Europe, alongside other regional and charter airlines. It has a single, recently expanded terminal, and shuttle buses link it directly to Kutaisi, Tbilisi, and Batumi (a nearby train station adds rail connections). For travelers, it's typically the cheapest way to fly into Georgia and a convenient starting point for western Georgia — Imereti, Adjara, Svaneti, and Samegrelo.

Route network and airlines

The airport's identity as a budget hub is defined above all by Wizz Air, the low-cost carrier that established Kutaisi as one of its South Caucasus bases and built an extensive network of direct connections to cities across Europe — currently more than 20 destinations, across Central and Eastern Europe, the UK, Germany, Italy, and other markets. This has made Kutaisi a practical, affordable entry point for independent travelers who might otherwise face higher fares into Tbilisi. Other regional and seasonal carriers also operate from Kutaisi, but Wizz Air remains the defining presence. The route network changes seasonally and expands periodically as demand grows, so checking current schedules directly with the airline or through a flight-search platform gives the most accurate picture of available connections at any given time.

The combination of low fares and the airport's position in western Georgia makes it a natural starting point for itineraries focused on Imereti, Adjara, Samegrelo, and Svaneti — the western destinations more conveniently reached from Kutaisi than from Tbilisi. Travelers landing at Kutaisi and heading for Batumi, the Svaneti mountains, or the Kutaisi area itself save both on airfare and on ground-transport time compared with routing through the capital.

The terminal

The airport operates from a single terminal — expanded and substantially renovated in 2021 to roughly three times its former size — that is modern, compact, and straightforward to navigate, considerably less complex than Tbilisi's Shota Rustaveli International Airport. Check-in, security, and boarding are handled efficiently, and the relatively modest passenger volumes outside peak summer mean the processes rarely become congested. The facilities are functional rather than extensive — a café, a small duty-free and retail section, a lounge, basic waiting areas, ATMs, and SIM-card desks — sufficient for budget travelers without the dining and shopping range of larger airports. Wi-Fi is available throughout, and the airport is fully equipped for standard international operations (customs, passport control, baggage handling). The simple layout means first-time arrivals orient themselves quickly.

Getting to and from the airport

Shuttle buses run by Georgian Bus and Omnibus Express connect the airport to Kutaisi, Tbilisi, and Batumi (and, seasonally, to mountain destinations such as Mestia, Gudauri, and Stepantsminda/Kazbegi), with schedules coordinated to major flight arrivals and departures. Approximate journey times and fares (confirm current details, as these change):

Kutaisi city: about 30–45 minutes; the airport shuttle is inexpensive (a few GEL).
Tbilisi: around 3–4 hours; roughly 20 GEL one way.
Batumi: around 2 hours; roughly 15 GEL one way.

The Tbilisi shuttle is the most-used connection for travelers landing at Kutaisi but heading to the capital, and the budget airfare plus the shuttle generally still works out cheaper than flying directly into Tbilisi, even accounting for the extra journey time. Beyond the buses, the modernized Kopitnari railway station about 2 km from the airport is served by Tbilisi–Batumi trains, adding a rail option; private transfers and app-based taxis (Bolt is the standard, and safer than street taxis) are available at arrivals and can be pre-booked; and car-rental desks operate in the terminal for independent onward travel.

Practical information

Location: Kopitnari, Kutaisi Municipality, Imereti region, western Georgia, about 14–20 km west of Kutaisi city center.
Airport code: KUT (officially David the Builder Kutaisi International Airport).
Website: kutaisi.aero
Getting to/from: Shuttle buses (Georgian Bus, Omnibus Express) to Kutaisi, Tbilisi, and Batumi, timed to flights; Kopitnari train station ~2 km away on the Tbilisi–Batumi line; app taxis (Bolt) and pre-booked private transfers at arrivals; car rental in the terminal.
Defining airline: Wizz Air (low-cost, 20+ European destinations), plus other regional/seasonal carriers.
Recommended arrival time: at least 2 hours before departure for international flights (more in peak summer).
Tip: book transfers/shuttles in advance for late-night arrivals, and use a taxi app rather than accepting rides from people approaching you in the terminal.

Kutaisi International Airport (code KUT), officially David the Builder Kutaisi International Airport, is Georgia's second international airport and its main budget-airline gateway. It's about 14–20 km west of Kutaisi, in the Imereti region of western Georgia. It's best known as a base for the low-cost carrier Wizz Air, which connects it to more than 20 European destinations, and it's typically the cheapest way to fly into Georgia. It has a single, recently expanded terminal.

By shuttle bus, train, taxi, or private transfer. Shuttle buses (run by Georgian Bus and Omnibus Express) are timed to flights: Tbilisi is roughly a 3–4 hour ride (about 20 GEL one way), and Batumi about 2 hours (about 15 GEL). The nearby Kopitnari train station, about 2 km from the airport, is on the Tbilisi–Batumi rail line. App-based taxis (Bolt) and pre-booked private transfers are also available at arrivals. Fares and schedules change, so check current details before you travel.

The city center is about 14–20 km away, roughly 30–45 minutes by road. The airport shuttle bus is the cheapest option (a few GEL) and runs in coordination with flights, though the timetable is sparse, so check it matches your flight. For convenience, especially late at night, a Bolt taxi or a pre-booked private transfer is more flexible. Use a taxi app rather than accepting a ride from someone approaching you in the terminal.

Wizz Air is the defining carrier, connecting Kutaisi to more than 20 destinations across Europe — Central and Eastern Europe, the UK, Germany, Italy, and other markets — plus other regional and seasonal airlines. Because the route network changes each season and expands over time, the most reliable way to see current connections is to check directly with the airline or a flight-search site rather than relying on a fixed list.

For budget-conscious and western-Georgia-bound travelers, often yes. Kutaisi fares are usually the cheapest into Georgia, and if you're heading to Batumi, Svaneti, Imereti, or Kutaisi itself, it saves both money and ground-transport time versus routing through Tbilisi. Even for Tbilisi-bound travelers, the cheap airfare plus the shuttle often still works out cheaper than flying directly into the capital, accepting the longer journey. If you're going straight to eastern Georgia, though, Tbilisi's airport may be more convenient overall.

Photo: Andrew Milligan Sumo via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (resized).