Up to eight aircraft of varying capacity, as well as the government Airbus A319 if necessary, are on standby to perform evacuation flights for Bulgarian citizens from the Middle East at short notice. This was announced by the press center of the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

The ministry clarifies that talks have been underway since February 28, 2026, with the management of all Bulgarian airlines that have aircraft or operate in the region.

As part of the actions taken, the available aircraft, the possibilities of securing the necessary slots for take-off and landing, as well as the operational parameters of potential flights, are being clarified. The process is carried out in close coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the competent national institutions, partner countries in the region, and the member states of the European Union.

The leading priority remains to guarantee the safety of Bulgarian citizens and to create conditions for their timely return at the first safe opportunity, the ministry points out.

Active coordination is also maintained with the aviation administrations of other EU member states, including the exchange of information regarding planned evacuations, opportunities for joint actions, and the mutual use of available capacity.

BTA recalls that on Sunday, US President Donald Trump confirmed that Israel and the US had jointly struck Iran, which led to the suspension of a number of flights in the region.

Yesterday, the caretaker Minister of Tourism, Irena Georgieva, said that around 1,400 organized tourists with tour operator programs are currently in countries in the Middle East. The largest number of them are in Dubai, followed by Jordan.