New airport charges and discount program offered by the capital’s airport
Transcontinental flights from Sofia will receive a 99% discount on the airport landing fee, airlines flying on new routes to Europe will have an 80% reduction in the fee, and flights to Varna and Burgas will also receive an 80% discount. Airlines that guarantee an annual increase in traffic receive additional preferences on airport charges, which increase with the number of passengers. Special discounts are also provided for airlines with aircraft based at Sofia Airport. The discounts are part of Sofia Airport’s financial incentive program, which comes together with the new airport tariff. This is the first time historically that the charges levied by the capital’s airport have been set for such a long period of time – from the beginning of 2023 to the end of 2027 – and the aim is to give airlines long-term predictability that charges will not change over the next 5 years.
Landing, security, parking, passenger, and boarding bridge fees have been updated to reflect the economic conditions and costs of the airport operator and remain the most competitive with other airports in the region, SOF Connect added.
Nearly 1 million additional seats to and from Sofia are expected this year as a result of successful collaborations with airlines on new and existing destinations. In December, Wizz Air based its seventh aircraft here, which will allow 500,000 new seats, and negotiations are ongoing with low-cost and traditional airlines for new routes to over 80 destinations.
“Air connectivity is one of our main tasks. Competitive airport charges are the strongest incentive for airlines, and we aim to provide them while keeping the airport’s financial parameters sustainable. I am optimistic about new, attractive destinations already this year that will make Bulgaria even closer to the world,” said Airport CEO Jesus Caballero.