Fraport Twin Star Airport Management, which runs Burgas and Varna airports under a concession deal, has won the gold award from Destination Bulgaria magazine for the second year running. The prizes were handed out on September 25 at the Central Military Club in Sofia, in a hall full of people from tourism, government, local authorities and business.
The company was honoured for its part in welcoming and seeing off tourists and for promoting Bulgaria as a destination. This year judges looked at flight connections, money put into the airports, the quality of the passenger experience, and how well Burgas, Varna and the Black Sea coast are marketed abroad. The 2025 gold award recognised the company's role in growing tourism and building Bulgaria's name as a place people want to visit.
"For millions of visitors, our airports are among their first and last impressions of Bulgaria, and that gives us both a responsibility and a chance," said chief executive Michael Reusch. He said the award recognises the work of the whole team at both airports. The company will keep investing in infrastructure, the passenger experience and flight links, working alongside tourism partners. The goal is to make Bulgaria more visible and more competitive as a destination abroad.
Repairs to the runway at Burgas Airport finished in April. The concession holder calls it the biggest single private investment ever made in airport infrastructure in Bulgaria. It makes the airport safer and more reliable, and strengthens its role as the main gateway to the Black Sea coast.
Both airports also have open-air Gate Gardens, which have picked up a string of awards. The idea is that the holiday starts right at the airport, and that passengers leave Bulgaria with that same feeling.
To draw new routes, the company set up a scheme rewarding airlines for flying to Bulgaria, feeding into the Burgas Airport Development Fund. At Routes aviation forums, the team talks directly to airlines already flying to Burgas and Varna, as well as ones that could add the airports to their network. It works with airlines, tour operators, local councils and tourism bodies to bring in new routes and strengthen existing markets, backs events such as Erlebe Bulgarien, and is building up work in the Polish and UK markets. "We connect Varna and Burgas to the world" is the company's motto.
Fraport has backed Burgas since the city first bid to host Eurovision, and will keep helping with airport operations, the passenger experience, communications and special events at both airports.
Earlier this month, Burgas and Varna airports reported combined passenger numbers topping 3 million.