Batumi Airport to Kutaisi Airport 2026: Transfer, Distance & Cost

Updated July 2026 · ~123 km · ~2 h 15 by car · airport-to-airport

Why travellers move between Batumi and Kutaisi airports

Georgia has two western airports and travellers often need to move between them. Kutaisi (KUT) is the low-cost hub — Wizz Air and other budget carriers fly there from across Europe — while Batumi (BUS) handles a different mix of seasonal and regional flights on the coast. If your outbound and inbound flights land at different airports, if a connection changes at the last minute, or if you booked a one-way rental and are catching a cheap flight home from Kutaisi, you need a dependable link across the ~123 km between them. Because both airports sit outside their city centres, an airport-to-airport transfer that meets your flight is usually simpler than piecing together city buses.

The route: Batumi Airport (BUS) to Kutaisi Airport (KUT)

Batumi’s airport is on the southern edge of the city near the Turkish border; Kutaisi’s airport (Kopitnari) lies about 20 km west of Kutaisi city. The drive heads north up the coast past Kobuleti, then turns inland through Supsa and Samtredia before reaching Kopitnari — roughly 123 km and about 2 h 15 in normal traffic. It is a straightforward, mostly flat route, a little slower in summer when the coast road is busy. Give yourself a comfortable buffer against your check-in time; low-cost carriers at Kutaisi close their desks strictly.

Option 1: Private transfer — the reliable airport-to-airport link

A fixed-price private transfer is the natural choice when a flight is on the line. The driver meets you in Batumi arrivals, helps with luggage and drives straight to the Kutaisi terminal, tracking your inbound flight so a delay does not lose your car. Expect about 150–220 GEL per vehicle in 2026, agreed at booking and unaffected by traffic or the hour. For two or more people, or anyone with a connection to protect, splitting one fixed fare across the car is both calmer and often cheaper per head than juggling buses with suitcases.

Option 2: Shuttle bus — cheap but tied to flight times

Scheduled shuttle buses (Georgian Bus, Metro Georgia and similar operators) connect Kutaisi airport with Batumi, timed around Wizz Air arrivals and departures rather than run frequently through the day. A seat is roughly 25–35 GEL, which is easy on the wallet, but services are sparse, can involve a change in Batumi or Kutaisi, and leave you exposed if your first flight is late and you miss the one useful connection. It suits a solo traveller with a single bag and a flexible schedule, not a family racing a check-in deadline.

Option 3: Train or marshrutka plus airport taxi — the budget route

The lowest headline fare combines public transport to Kutaisi with a short taxi to the airport. You can take a Batumi–Kutaisi (Rioni) train or a marshrutka into the city for a handful of lari, then a 20 km taxi out to Kopitnari for around 25–35 GEL. The total can drop under 40 GEL, but it means two or three legs, waiting time and luggage handling — awkward on an early or late flight. See our Kutaisi airport transfers guide and Batumi airport transfers guide for the local detail at each end.

Practical tips for an airport-to-airport day

• Protect your connection: build in a buffer of a few hours between landing at Batumi and check-in at Kutaisi — the drive alone is over two hours before any traffic.
• Give your flight number: a pre-booked driver tracks the inbound flight and waits if you are delayed, which a rank taxi or a fixed-time bus will not.
• Kutaisi desks close early: low-cost carriers shut check-in strictly — do not plan to arrive at the last minute.
• Carry some lari in cash: you pay the driver directly, and small kiosks at either airport prefer cash.
• Travelling on to the city? If Kutaisi is your real destination, our Kutaisi airport to city centre guide covers the last 20 km.

How booking works with OrbiTrip

Open the Batumi Airport ↔ Kutaisi Airport search, set Batumi Airport as pickup and Kutaisi Airport as destination, then choose date, time and vehicle class. The fixed price you see is the price you pay — no surge and no online card checkout. OrbiTrip is a free platform that connects you with a licensed local driver; you settle the agreed fare directly with them, and after confirmation you receive the driver contacts to arrange the exact meeting point in Batumi arrivals.

FAQ

How far is Kutaisi Airport from Batumi Airport and how long is the drive?

Kutaisi International Airport (KUT) is about 123 km from Batumi International Airport (BUS) by road, and the drive takes roughly 2 hours 15 minutes up the coast and inland through Samtredia, a little longer in busy summer traffic.

How much does a Batumi Airport to Kutaisi Airport transfer cost in 2026?

A fixed-price private transfer is about 150 to 220 GEL per vehicle, paid directly to the driver. A scheduled shuttle bus is roughly 25 to 35 GEL per seat, and a marshrutka or train plus an airport taxi can total under 40 GEL. OrbiTrip takes no commission.

Is there a direct bus between Batumi Airport and Kutaisi Airport?

There are scheduled shuttle buses linking Kutaisi airport with Batumi, timed mainly around Wizz Air flights rather than run frequently. They are cheap but infrequent and may need a change, so they suit flexible solo travellers more than tight connections.

Can I go by train instead?

You can take a Batumi to Kutaisi (Rioni) train and then a taxi for the last 20 km to Kopitnari airport. It is inexpensive but adds a change and waiting time, so it works best when you are not racing a check-in deadline.

Will the driver wait if my flight into Batumi is late?

Yes. With a pre-booked transfer the driver tracks your inbound flight and waits if you are delayed, which is the main reason travellers protecting an onward Kutaisi flight choose a private car over a fixed-time bus.

Is a private transfer worth it for connecting flights?

For two or more travellers, or anyone with luggage and an onward flight to catch, a single fixed fare split across the car is calmer and often cheaper per person than shuttles, and it removes the risk of missing a sparse bus.

Book your Batumi Airport → Kutaisi Airport transfer →

OrbiTrip — a free platform connecting travellers with licensed Georgian drivers. Fixed prices, paid directly to the driver.