no logo on Wikidata:  | ||
.jpg/300px-David_the_Builder_Kutaisi_International_Airport,_KUT,_Georgia_(41001395655).jpg) | ||
| Kopitnari Airport | ||
| height | 68 m | |
|---|---|---|
| IATA code | KUT | |
| ICAO code | UGKO | |
| Number of passengers | 617.373 (2018) | |
| ||
The Kutaisi “Davit Aghmashenebeli” International Airport (also: David the Builder / David the Builder International Airport, Georgian: ქუთაისის დავით აღმაშენებლის სახელობის საერთაშორისო აეროპორტი, Kutaisis Davit Aghmasheneblis sakhelobis saertashoriso aeroporti), formerly Kopitnari Airport and as such still very popular in the vernacular, there is a small regional airport in the Georgian province Imereti. It serves the third largest Georgian city Kutaisi and is halfway between Kutaisi and Samtredia on the trunk road 
.
background
In the Soviet era, Kopitnari was a moderately used provincial airport. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kopitnari was also affected by the economic decline, scheduled flights were only offered sporadically. In 2012 the airport was renovated and equipped with a modern terminal. That was a condition for the Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air Scheduled flights to Kutaisi. At the opening in September 2012, Wizz Air actually took off for the first time Kiev-Schuljani, since then the company has been steadily expanding its offer to Kutaisi.
Malicious tongues in Georgia claim that the airport was rebuilt specifically for Wizz Air. That may be a rumor, but the color scheme of the terminal reinforces it. The airport opening shortly before the parliamentary elections in September 2012 was brought up as a major event in the election campaign with then President Mikheil Saakashvili and Wizz Air CEO Varadi; the election was won by the political opponent Bidzina Ivanishvili.
In autumn 2016, Wizzair set up a base in Kopitnari and set up numerous new routes. With the long awaited visa liberalization - since March 28, 2017, Georgian citizens can enter the Schengen area without a visa - the airport is also called "Evroporti" (Portmanteau from Evropa - Europe and Aeroporti - airport). In a country where everything is on the head Tbilisi is tailored, it is a particular satisfaction for the western Georgian province that the capital city is now "crawling" to Kutaisi.
A few years ago, the increase in traffic made the high-priced flights to Georgia - including Tbilisi - much cheaper. Ultimately, the airport was indirectly responsible for making air travel affordable for more and more Georgians. However, visa liberalization increased the demand from Georgians for flight tickets to Europe, which also increased prices.
The terminal is architecturally an attraction, and was designed by the architecture studio UNStudio designed. The 55 m high tower in the style of a Svanetian The defense tower is visible from afar in the Colchian plain and is considered to be one of the highest airport towers in the world. The small terminal building is a mixture of constructivist and postmodern style and has a small inner courtyard as a special attraction, where you can still smoke after passing through security and passport control before departure.
After Kutaisi became a Wizzair base, the small airport temporarily reached its capacity limit from 2016 onwards. There are plans to build a second terminal building so that up to seven flights can be processed at the same time. A rail connection with direct trains from Tbilisi and Batumi is also being planned.
getting there
By train
A journey by train up to railway station Samtredia with an express train between Tbilisi and Potentiometer / Zugdidi / Batumi and then continue with a taxi from the station forecourt (approx. 10 Lari, 15 min) is currently the more comfortable way to get here than by minibuses. However, the trains only run once or twice a day. You have to use the train schedule to clarify whether there is a suitable train connection for the departure time (arrival in Samtredia approx. Three hours before departure, in order to also plan a safety cushion for delays). The direct train from Tbilisi to Kutaisi takes significantly longer than the express train to Samtredia (Tiflis-Kutaisi-I 5½ hours, 7 Lari versus Tbilisi-Samtredia 4 hours, 17 Lari). Taxis to Samtredia are also available for the taxi ride after the flight arrives However, foreigners in particular like to charge excessive prices at the airport.
There is the small one about 1 km from the airport Kopitnari train station. This has been renovated and - according to a train conductor - will be reopened in April 2017. It's on the part of the Georgian Railways considered to run trains from Tbilisi directly to Kutaisi Airport. As of April 2017, however, there is no official information about when which trains will stop there, how often they will run and at what price. According to the airport's promotional video, a branch line is to be built and, from April 2018, express trains from Tbilisi will stop right in front of the terminal (Video on YouTube)
By bus
There is no public transport from Kutaisi that goes directly to the airport. However, marshrutkas who drive to / from Kutaisi on the highway stop on request.
The bus company Georgian bus offers trips to and from Kutaisi Airport from Tbilisi (Tavisuplebis Moedani, 20 GEL p.p. one way) and Batumi (parking lot at the Radisson Blu Hotel, 18 GEL p.p. one way), the timetable is coordinated with the flight plan. Tickets can also be bought and paid for online. Advance booking is not necessary, the company guarantees "space for everyone." In the terminal, tickets are sold at a counter that is open after the flight has arrived. The same company also offers bus connections between Kutaisi Airport and other tourist centers, if booked in advance. Mestia, Stepantsminda (Kazbegi) and Gudauri.
With the taxi
A taxi costs 20-25 GEL Kutaisi, Travel time around 20 minutes. Take a taxi Samtredia costs 10 lari, travel time 10-15 min.
In the street
The airport is halfway between Kutaisi and Samtredia on the trunk road ს 1 / E 60, approx. 20 km from both cities. At arrival by car (paid parking lot in front of the terminal, 2 GEL for the first hour) follow the old trunk road from Kutaisi or Samtredia. Coming from Tbilisi, follow the new expressway from Nakhshirghele to the “Bashi” exit; at the end of the slip road, turn right at the roundabout (old highway to Kutaisi); the approach is well signposted.
Airlines and Destinations
- Wizz Air. The local dominant airline. In addition to the company headquarters in Budapest is served in January 2018 in the German-speaking area Berlin, Dortmund and Memmingen (aka "München-West") and from November 2018 Vienna. Other destinations are Milan (Malpensa), Vilnius, Katowice (summer flight schedule only), Warsaw, Thessaloniki, Larnaca, London Luton, Kaunas, Athens, Kavala, Prague, Barcelona (El Prat), Rome (Fiumicino), Paris (Beauvais).
- Ukraine International Airlines. Serves Kiev (Boryspil).
Terminals
There is only one common terminal for arrivals and departures. Transfer connections are not offered.
Gastronomy and shops
- There are small cafes, all from the same operator and for local standards very overpriced. Prices: sandwich 6-7.50 GEL; Espresso 4.60 GEL; Canned beer 0.33 l 4 GEL. There is one on the land side and one on the air side, there are no hot meals, only snacks and drinks; and only a few seats. The name of the café, "Mimino", is an allusion to the Georgian cult film of the same name from the 1970s about a bush pilot in the Tushetan mountains nicknamed Mimino (the falcon), who goes to Moscow to pilot the Tu-144 supersonic aircraft and experience all kinds of funny adventures.
- There is one in the departure area Duty Free Shop with the usual range of goods. Alcoholic beverages are available in regular shops in Georgia and Germany much cheaper, but cigarettes are much cheaper than in Germany, but more expensive than in normal shops in Georgia, and only international brands are available.
- A Smoking area is accessible from the transit room, it is a small inner courtyard.
accommodation
There are no hotels at the airport, it is best to find accommodation in all price ranges in Kutaisi. Most hotels in Kutaisi also offer airport transfers. Also in Samtredia, which is a little closer, there are some accommodations. The hotel closest to the airport is around 10 km away; Hotel Tsiskari in the village of Ianeti (tel: 995 555 758570; email: [email protected])
Practical advice
- In the airport terminal (landside) there is not only a rental car (Sixt) but also a tourist information office (995 555 590602, [email protected]), which should theoretically be manned 24 hours, but practically only for arriving flights. In addition to the tourist information, there is also a stand of the mobile operator Geocell, where SIM cards are also available for foreigners. There are also SIM cards from the operator beeline, which often offer a better price-performance ratio.
- At the airport there are ATMs from three different banks directly at the entrance, although the Bank of Georgia charges extra for MasterCard use.
- An exchange office operated by a bank is located in the arrival area in the far corner on the right.
Web links
- http://www.kutaisi.aero/ - Official website of Kopitnari Airport
- ArchDaily: About the architecture of the airport - with lots of photos
- Blog Koba's World:Kutaisi Airport (KUT) goes hi-tech and green - with comparison graphics of the highest towers
