On 16 September – 85 years ago, a decree of Tsar Boris III designated the site near the village of Vrazhdebna for the construction of the capital’s airport.

A few years later, before the start of the Second World War, the construction of the airport’s passenger terminal, impressive for its time in terms of architecture and scale, began.

© Sofia Airport

Having long become a trademark of the capital and one of the symbols of the city, this year the largest Bulgarian airport celebrates its 85th anniversary.

First flight in 1947.

As an initial step in the development of the capital’s airport was the implementation of the first flying field with a dirt runway for take-off and landing, replaced in 1943 by a concrete one, and with the opening in 1949 of today’s Terminal 1 and the beginning of international flights in the same year, the airport became a full-fledged transport center for passengers and cargo.

Sofia Airport Terminal 1 in the past

Despite the additions and reconstruction of the Terminal 1 building in the period 1960-1990, traces of Bulgarian architectural modernism are still visible today – the stone mosaics and wrought iron chandeliers in the Departure Lounge bear references to that time.

Having witnessed many historical and economic vicissitudes over the years, Sofia Airport’s infrastructure has been repeatedly improved and expanded to meet the rapid pace of development of the sector and to provide a modern standard of services in a safe and secure environment.

The airport’s modern history includes the construction of a new runway and Terminal 2 – opened on the eve of Bulgaria’s accession to the EU in 2006. Soon after, the new runway was categorised for operation in adverse weather conditions and the new terminal was expanded.

Terminal 2 during its construction

With the environment and nearby communities in mind, the noise shield for aircraft engine testing was built in 2009, and since 2012 the new airport control tower has been part of the modern landscape of the current Sofia Airport.

Before the pandemic permanently changed the face of the aviation industry, the number of passengers served by Sofia Airport exceeded 7 million. Owned by the state over the years, in April 2021 the site was leased through a 35-year concession to SOF Connect plc.

The company belongs to the investment fund Meridiam and benefits from the expertise of Munich Airport – the respected professionals of Munich International Airport are an indispensable part of the management team of SOF Connect with unquestionable input in strategic decision-making.

Recently, the operator of the capital airport announced a large-scale investment programme for the development of Sofia Airport worth over BGN 1.2 billion, of which nearly BGN 140 million are for the first 5 years. The transformation of Sofia Airport is already underway – Sofia Airport welcomes its birthday with a new corporate website.

Immediately forthcoming are a major redevelopment of the retail area, an infrastructure reorganisation that will significantly increase passenger and baggage handling capacity, and a major refurbishment of the covered public car park.

Sofia Airport’s New Duty Free Zone

Today, 27 airlines operate direct flights to more than 80 international destinations from Sofia Airport’s two passenger terminals, and the lifting of travel restrictions and returning interest in international routes are a cause for optimism.

Competitive airport charges and an attractive incentive marketing programme are part of the mechanisms to improve Sofia Airport’s air connectivity and increase the destination’s popularity.

This, together with active measures aimed at reducing carbon emissions, is a guarantee for the sustainable development of the capital’s airport and for the realisation of economic and social benefits for the community and the region.

“85 years is an impressive tradition, we are proud to be a part of it! We are confident of successfully transforming Sofia Airport into a 5-star regional hub with a constantly growing flight network and satisfied passengers, where constant care for the environment is an integral part of our agenda,” said Jesús Caballero, CEO of Sofia Airport, on the occasion of the anniversary.

Sofia Airport will celebrate its 85th anniversary with a series of events. Videos and reports, the presentation of a new logo, a thematic exhibition and initiatives in the airport park are just some of the events planned.

Source: Profit.bg