Sofia Airport will encourage flight increases with up to 99% discount on landing fees
The program will run throughout the third quarter and may continue in 2022
To stimulate air traffic and develop connectivity, the management team of SOF Connect has developed a special program aimed at airlines. The aim is to provide more opportunities for passengers from Sofia Airport and efficient use of airport infrastructure. The discounts for the air carriers are for the period October 1 - December 31, 2021, and after additional consultations, the term can be extended for 2022.
The strategic goal set in the airport operator's program is to launch intercontinental flights to North America and Asia. The provided discount for the carriers is in the amount of 99% of the landing fee.
Another important priority is the transformation of Sofia Airport into a regional hub and the promotion of transfer traffic, as for transfer passengers on regular international and domestic routes the discount is 60%.
For the development of tourism, the stimulation of the Bulgarian economy and the connectivity of the regions, SOF Connect also provides incentives for domestic flights. Carriers with regular passenger lines to Bourgas and Varna will enjoy a discount of a landing fee of 70% and 90% respectively.
It is planned to reduce the parking fee for Sofia-based aircraft. For the parking of more than 3 planes of one airline, the discount is 15%, and for more than 6 aircraft it is 30%. The measure is aimed at the development of direct scheduled flights and better air connectivity.
The new program aims to stimulate traffic through Sofia Airport by providing opportunities for opening new destinations, increasing flight frequencies, attracting new airlines and creating long-term, strategic partnerships. All this is to the benefit of travelers, who will have more choice in planning their trips. Our actions are also aimed at the development of tourism and the economy, which are an integral part of the aviation business, "said Jesus Cabayero, CEO of SOF Connect.
For the first three months (May, June and July 2021) of the new operator, four airlines - "El Al", "Tarom", "British Airways" and "Aeroflot" resumed their flights. New seasonal destinations for Sofia Airport are: Corfu, Rhodes and Thessaloniki. There is a tendency to increase the flight frequencies of most operating airlines during the summer months - July and August.