The Council of Ministers has approved a decision to provide additional funding to the budget of the Ministry of Transport and Communications for 2026, totaling 4,986,305 euros. These funds are being granted to Bulgaria Heli Med Service EAD as a subsidy to provide air transport for the needs of the state-organized emergency medical service, the cabinet's press office announced.
In 2026, the company is operating with a fleet of eight helicopters. There is an expansion in the number of operational bases, which has grown from one in 2025 to two in 2026, with plans for a total of four by the end of the current year. This scaling up of operations inevitably leads to higher costs for maintaining aircraft airworthiness, technical servicing, fuel, insurance, pilot training, and travel expenses.
From the commencement of the system's operations in June 2024 through July 31, 2026, a total of 314 emergency medical missions and 665 training and test flights have been conducted. Statistics for the first seven months of 2026 show 145 missions performed, exceeding the total number of missions completed during the entire year of 2025.
The allocated financial resources are planned to cover expenses in the following areas:
- staff salaries and social security contributions;
- pilot training;
- fuel and insurance;
- helicopter repair works;
- obligations under dry lease agreements with the Ministry of Health.
The aviation operator is required to maintain continuous compliance with all regulatory requirements regarding safety, airworthiness, and technical maintenance. These costs are mandatory, as reducing them would create risks for operational readiness and the quality of the service provided in the general economic interest. The secured funds ensure the sustainable functioning of the air emergency medical service system.