Wind Blows Roof off New Airport

A portion of tin sheeting from the roof of the recently constructed terminal of Tbilisi International Airport was ripped off by strong winds on February 24. No one was injured, reports say.

The new terminal was inaugurated by Azerbaijani, Georgian and Turkish leaders on February 7, but made headlines in the Georgian media again on February 18 when the roof started to leak in the rain.

The Turkish company Tepe-Akfen-Vie (TAV), which teamed up with Turkish construction firm Urban, signed a deal with the Georgian authorities in September 2005. According to the deal, the Tbilisi Airport was transferred to TAV with 15-year management rights. Construction of the new terminal began in January 2006.

The new terminal has a total area of 24,000 square meters and three passenger boarding bridges.

TAV is also constructing a new airport in Batumi, Adjara Autonomous Republic. The Turkish company has invested about USD 100 million into the two projects.

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