The Carriage Certificate
An operator of an aircraft registered in Georgia may carry passengers, baggage, cargo and/or mail for commercial purposes where it holds an air carriage certificate. Commercial carriage also includes the transfer of the aircraft with crew to another operator under lease — the certificate regime thus governs a wide spectrum. The issuance procedure is approved by the Agency — which means the procedural details are arranged on levels: the law determines the conditions, and the Agency the issuance procedure, which includes the list of documentation and the stages of verification. For an applicant this two-tier structure is the basis of a practical plan: first satisfying the conditions, then passing the procedure.
Requirements for the Certificate Holder
The certificate is issued to a legal person registered in Georgia in which Georgian citizens, the state or a person established here own more than 50% of the voting share or shares, and whose main place of activity is Georgia. In addition: its main activity must be commercial carriage; it must hold a valid operator certificate issued by the Agency; it must have sufficient financial resources for existing and potential obligations for 2 years from the start of operations, disregarding income received in the first 3 months; and the decision-taking manager must not have a bad business reputation — a conviction for a grave or economic offence that caused the enterprise's insolvency during his management. Compliance is permanently supervised by the Agency, which may demand the submission of information; this article does not apply to services by ultralight aircraft or engineless aircraft and to training and local flights. Permanent supervision means that satisfying the requirements is not a one-off act: throughout the validity of the certificate the company must maintain the ownership structure, financial stability and the reputation of its management — and provide the Agency with timely information about changes. An internal compliance system is therefore for an airline not a formality but a condition of keeping the certificate.
Permits, Costs and Tariffs
The distinction between the certificate and the permit is practically significant as well: the certificate is a broad authority attached to the company's status, while the permit is the admission of a specific operation on defined conditions. For non-scheduled international carriage and specialized operation, obtaining a permit is a separate step, and its timeliness is reflected in planning — which is why preparation of the application should begin in advance.
Non-scheduled international carriage and the specialized operation of an aircraft registered abroad are carried out on the basis of a permit of the Agency, issued in accordance with the Law on Licenses and Permits. The costs connected with licensing and certification are reimbursed by the persons interested in obtaining the license and certificate. The tariff of carriage and flight services is established in accordance with Georgian legislation.
To summarize: the airline licensing process rests on five conditions. One — legal form: a legal person registered in Georgia whose main place of activity is Georgia. Two — ownership: a Georgian party must own more than 50% of the voting share or shares. Three — the certificate: a valid operator certificate from the Agency. Four — finances: sufficient resources for 2 years of obligations, excluding the income of the first 3 months. Five — reputation: the business-reputation requirement for the manager. Observing all five simultaneously is the route to obtaining the certificate.
The Five Blocks of Documentary Preparation
The five requirements translate into documentary blocks. First — registration and principal place: the formal evidence of a legal entity registered in Georgia. Second — ownership: a scheme of the ownership structure showing more than 50 percent of the shares held by the Georgian side, directly or indirectly. Third — the valid operator certificate issued by the agency. Fourth — financial planning: a 2-year coverage of existing and potential obligations, without the income of the first 3 months. Fifth — the manager's reputation: declarations of convictions and of insolvency history. Each block is verified separately, and that is precisely why preparing them simultaneously shortens the application's timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below we answer the questions most frequently asked on this topic.
What does commercial carriage require?
An air carriage certificate; the holder must satisfy the ownership, certificate, financial and reputational requirements.
Who supervises compliance?
The Agency — permanently, with the right to demand information.
When do exceptions apply?
For services by ultralight or engineless aircraft and for training and local flights.
Who pays the licensing costs?
The persons interested in obtaining the license and certificate.
Is the income of the first months counted in the financial requirement?
No — the requirement of sufficient resources covers obligations for 2 years from the start of operation, and the income received in the first 3 months is not taken into account.
How We Help on Legal.ge
Airline licensing unites many conditions — from the ownership structure to the financial and reputational requirements — and the failure of each of them halts the process. On Legal.ge you can consult an aviation-law lawyer who will assess your company's compliance in advance, prepare the documentation and represent you with the Agency. Submit a request on the site, indicating the company's status and the planned operations — and get qualified assistance in obtaining the certificate.