“Outside the agenda was presented an exotic idea to create an airline, positioned in Burgas and with the participation of all municipalities in the area, which would serve year-round flights to the city from as many destinations as possible.”
This is what the regional governor Plamen Yanev said after the meeting he organized between representatives of municipalities and business, where they discussed the future of Burgas airport and the season on the Southern Black Sea coast.
According to him, the idea of creating an airline, figuratively named „Burgas Air“, can be put into concrete figures and a business plan at the end of April. At today’s meeting, it was decided to send questions to the Ministry of Transport and Communications asking whether all the annexes and documents to the concession contract for Burgas Airport are available, as there is speculation that such information is missing.
“The ministry itself, on the basis of the contract, should propose options for its opening and renegotiation so that some specific commitments for the development of the airport are accepted. If the airport is a big burden for Fraport to come to a review of the concession and look for a concessionaire with greater possibilities.”
He said the idea of a Flight Incentive Fund had also been briefly considered. The mayor of Pomorie, Ivan Alexiev, who is its initiator, has already sent a letter to all municipalities in the districts of Burgas, Sliven, Yambol and Stara Zagora on the subject.
“I am personally committed to talking to the governors of these districts to create a strong economic initiative.”
In Yanev’s words, the participants in the meeting united around the thesis that this fund should be managed by the municipalities themselves, and not give powers only to the concessionaire.
The idea of creating an airline „Burgas Air“ was also commented by its promoter Momchil Todorov.
“This is a very crude idea for a project „Regular lines and flights from Burgas” to be based on so-called ethnic traffic. It includes the Bulgarians who live in Germany, who currently number 400 000, and possibly the Bulgarians who live within a 100 km radius of Burgas Airport.
And to this traffic, ethnic traffic, additional seats will be sold to tour operators. As one plane will fly scheduled services from Burgas and the other two planes will fly for other airlines on what is called a „wet lease“. The aim is to reduce the business risk for the company by splitting the business into two separate areas – scheduled services and wet leasing. But a business plan has yet to be drawn up and investors sought“.
He added that the airline would rather use leased planes unless it finds a lot of money to own its own. He expects the municipalities to show understanding and participate as shareholders, but it will all depend on what the calculations and amounts to invest will show.
