This year, the runway at Burgas Airport will be rehabilitated, with more than 50 million euros to be invested in the project, Michael Reisch, CEO of the concessionaire of the two coastal airports in Bulgaria, “Fraport Twin Star Airport Management” AD, told BTA. According to him, the new runway is expected to be put into operation in May.
In Varna, investments will be mainly directed towards improving the passenger experience, Reisch added, and pointed out that a new building for the airport fire service will also be built.
He described the past 2025 as "extremely challenging." However, the company successfully overcame the difficulties and ended the year with nearly 4 million passengers for the two sea airports, Reisch added. He specified that the most tourists at both airports were from Germany. Guests from the UK, Poland, and the Czech Republic followed. There is serious potential for growth in travelers from the Scandinavian countries, Belgium, and the Netherlands, Reisch also said. According to him, however, the lack of tourists from Russia and Belarus cannot be compensated for.
As a serious success in 2025, he highlighted the new concept implemented by the company and the creation of gate garden open areas at the two airports. In this regard, the company is a pioneer in Europe and deservedly received the award for building of the year, Reisch pointed out.
He also commented that good interaction with the Bulgarian institutions is of utmost importance for the company. "We are doing everything possible to advertise Bulgaria, we have achieved a good dialogue with the caretaker administration, but the efforts must continue,” was Reisch's position. He added that the company has developed a new program to stimulate flights, which has been presented to the Ministry of Transport and the General Directorate "Civil Aviation Administration". According to him, new tariffs are set, and airlines are offered up to 100 percent discounts when certain criteria are met when operating year-round flights. The idea is to stimulate the carriers so that there is growth at the two sea airports, Reisch explained and emphasized that there have never been such attractive conditions for the airlines that would make the Bulgarian Black Sea coast extremely accessible.
The institutions are the ones that must approve the proposed program, added the director of "Fraport". According to him, it must also be adopted by the Council of Ministers.
As an airport operator, we are doing everything possible to attract more flights, but the company is mainly responsible for the infrastructure, so that passengers can be welcomed and sent off in the best and safest way, Reisch also pointed out. According to him, the responsibility for more flights and tourists is shared, and not just of the airport. We must continue to work together on the image of Bulgaria, so that the country becomes an increasingly desirable destination, Reisch summarized.