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SUI · medium airport

Vladislav Ardzinba Sukhum International Airport

Sukhumi, Georgia

Airports
SUImedium airport

Vladislav Ardzinba Sukhum International Airport

Sukhumi, Georgia
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UGSS
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53 ft
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TravelerPulse profile

Abkhazia's main gateway on the Black Sea coast.

Location
Sukhumi, Abkhazia (Georgia)
Vladislav Ardzinba Sukhum International Airport (IATA: SUI, ICAO: UGSS) serves Sukhumi, the capital of Abkhazia, a breakaway region internationally recognized as part of Georgia but administered independently with Russian support. The airport is named after Vladislav Ardzinba, the first president of Abkhazia. The airport has limited scheduled commercial operations due to Abkhazia's disputed political status. Russia recognizes Abkhazia as an independent state and has historically facilitated some air links, though regular scheduled services remain sparse and the airport primarily handles charter and occasional military or government flights. The facility sits near the Black Sea coast and has a single runway. Its international status is contested, as Georgia and most of the world consider flights there to be operating in violation of Georgian sovereignty.
Terminals
The airport has a small, modest passenger terminal reflective of its limited commercial traffic.
Getting to & from
Ground transport into central Sukhumi is available via road, with taxis being the primary means of transfer from the airport.
Airlines here
Regular scheduled commercial airline service is extremely limited due to the territory's disputed status; no major international carriers operate here.
Notable facts
  • ›Named after Vladislav Ardzinba, the first president of the breakaway Republic of Abkhazia.
  • ›Georgia considers the airport to be operating illegally on its sovereign territory.
  • ›The airport is recognized internationally under Georgian jurisdiction despite being controlled by Abkhazian authorities.
  • ›Commercial air traffic is severely restricted due to Abkhazia's unrecognized political status.
  • ›The airport is located near the eastern coast of the Black Sea.
Wikipedia
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
A Black Sea gateway suspended between recognition and resilience

Vladislav Ardzinba Sukhum International Airport, located near Sukhumi on the eastern Black Sea coast, serves the de facto capital of Abkhazia, a territory internationally recognised as part of Georgia but administered independently. The airport bears the name of Abkhazia's first president and has a complex history shaped by the 1992–93 Georgian-Abkhaz war, which left it heavily damaged and largely dormant for years. Today it operates on a very limited basis, primarily serving occasional charter and domestic flights, and remains one of the world's most geopolitically unique civil aviation facilities.

Terminals
  • Main Terminal — A single Soviet-era terminal building with limited facilities, partially restored after extensive war damage.
Ground Transport
  • Taxi from Sukhumi city centre (approximately 10–15 minutes)
  • Private car hire arranged through local contacts
Nearby Hotels
  • Hotel Ritsa, Sukhumi
  • Hotel Sukhum, Sukhumi
  • Amza Park Hotel, Sukhumi
Dining

In-terminal dining options are extremely limited or non-existent given the airport's minimal operational status. Sukhumi city centre, about 10 kilometres away, offers Georgian-Abkhaz cuisine including grilled meats, walnut-based dishes, and fresh Black Sea fish at small local restaurants and cafes. Travellers should plan to eat in the city before departing, as on-site catering cannot be relied upon.

Traveller Tips
  • Entry to Abkhazia without prior Georgian government authorisation is considered illegal under Georgian law and may result in a ban from entering Georgia proper.
  • The airport has extremely irregular flight schedules; always verify operational status well in advance through local sources.
  • Currency used is the Russian ruble; ensure you carry sufficient cash as ATM and card infrastructure is very limited.
  • Mobile connectivity relies on Russian networks; inform your carrier before travel as roaming may not function as expected.

AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.

Airlines serving this airport

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Routes

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Passport, Visa & Immigration

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