SOF Connect, in partnership with global travel retail and F&B company Avolta, announces the opening of a newly renovated commercial area at Terminal 1 of Vasil Levski Sofia Airport. The upgraded retail environment offers travelers greater convenience, enhanced product variety, and an improved overall shopping experience before departure.
As part of the renovation, Avolta has completely redesigned the retail spaces in Terminal 1, introducing the modern “walk-through” concept in line with international best practices. The commercial area has been doubled in size to nearly 1200 sq.m. and features a new, contemporary layout, expanded product categories, and seamless access for all departing passengers.
Amo restaurant with 205 sq. m. area is bringing an all-day Italian food and drink concept to the terminal, featuring freshly prepared pasta and other iconic Italian dishes.
The creation of Amo and Sofia Eats is part of the introduction of Avolta’s proprietary F&B concepts for the first time at a Bulgarian airport.
“At SOF Connect, we are committed to transforming Sofia’s airport into a modern, welcoming, and passenger-oriented gateway to Bulgaria. While Terminal 1 will be closed for commercial aviation operations once Terminal 3 becomes operational, we continue to invest in enhancing the passenger experience there today. Together with our trusted partner Avolta, we are ensuring that every traveler passing through Terminal 1 benefits from greater comfort, choice, and convenience, as we build the airport of the future.”, said Jesús Caballero, CEO of SOF Connect.
“We’re pleased to continue partnering with SOF Connect on the development of Terminal 1. The new walk-through duty free store, together with Amo, our all-day Italian concept, and the previously opened Sofia Eats, expands the retail and food & beverage offer available to passengers and supports a more convenient and contemporary airport experience. These openings also build on the broader development of our partnership at Sofia Airport across both terminals.” said Walter Seib, CEO Northern, Central & Eastern Europe, Avolta.
The new Terminal 1 openings build on the strong momentum of the partnership between SOF Connect and Avolta. In less than six months, four new commercial locations were launched at Terminal 2 of Vasil Levski Sofia Airport, including Brew’d – offering a menu of warm, shareable meals and convenient grab-and-go options, the duty-free shop in the non-Schengen area, the “Last Minute” shop in the Departures area, and a retail outlet in the Arrivals zone. In 2024, the largest walk-through duty free store in Bulgaria, spanning nearly 2,000 sq. m., was opened at Terminal 2.
This developments reflect the shared ambition of both companies to continuously enhance commercial offerings, improve service quality, and position Sofia’s airport as a leading aviation gateway in the region.
You can download photos from the event at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/y3zaczw5