Wizz Air, the largest airline by market share in Bulgaria, today celebrates a key milestone in its development in the country – 20 years since the opening of its base in Sofia. At the same time, the airline announces a record increase in capacity for the summer 2026 season, with growth of over 63% compared to the same period in 2025, or more than 2 million additional seats.
Wizz Air began operations in Bulgaria in September 2005 and opened its Sofia base in April 2006. Two decades later, the airline reports steady growth in the country and a significant contribution to the development of air transport and tourism.
Since the start of its operations in Bulgaria until today, Wizz Air has carried more than 25 million passengers to and from Sofia, while the total number of passengers traveling with the airline in Bulgaria has reached nearly 34 million. Over the same period, the airline has provided more than 28.4 million seats to and from Sofia and a total of 37.9 million seats in Bulgaria. In 2025 alone, the airline carried more than 2 million passengers from the capital and over 3 million passengers nationwide, demonstrating its sustainable growth in Bulgaria.
“This anniversary highlights our long-term commitment to Bulgaria. Twenty years ago, we launched our operations in the country with the mission of making air travel accessible to everyone, and today we are the market leader with eleven based aircraft and an extensive network connecting Bulgarian passengers with destinations and cultures across Europe and beyond. Sofia is at the heart of our regional operations, and with this year’s record capacity growth and the millions of passengers carried so far, we look to the next 20 years with optimism and determination to continue offering easy and affordable travel opportunities to Bulgarian passengers. Let’s WIZZ, Sofia!” said Salvatore Gabriele Imperiale, Corporate Communications Manager at Wizz Air.
“This anniversary is not only an important milestone for Wizz Air, but also for SOF Connect and for Vasil Levski Sofia Airport. Over the past 20 years, Wizz Air has been a key strategic partner, contributing significantly to the growth of connectivity, passenger traffic, and the overall competitiveness of the capital’s airport. The continued expansion of the airline’s base, the addition of the eight aircraft, and the record increase in capacity for summer 2026 are clear signs of the strong and sustainable demand for air travel to and from Sofia.
We value our successful partnership and remain committed to working together to further develop Sofia as a leading regional hub, providing passengers with more choice, improved services, and seamless travel opportunities. We look forward to building on this momentum in the years ahead.”, said Jesus Caballero, CEO of SOF Connect.
As part of its expansion in Bulgaria in summer 2026, Wizz Air is adding an eighth aircraft to its Sofia base and a third aircraft to its Varna base. This year, the airline will offer over 3.4 million seats from Sofia, an increase of 44.7% compared to 2025, and a total of 5 million seats in Bulgaria, a 32.3% increase year-on-year. The airline continues to expand its network from Bulgaria, providing even more affordable travel options to destinations across Europe and beyond. The airline’s fleet in Bulgaria consists of a total of eleven Airbus A321neo aircraft, which reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by up to 20% and significantly lower noise pollution.
Today, Wizz Air’s network from Bulgaria covers 70 routes to 20 countries, and from Sofia alone passengers can choose from 38 direct routes to 19 countries. The airline operates successfully from four key airports in the country – Sofia, Varna, Burgas, and Plovdiv – supporting regional connectivity, tourism, and economic development.