Burgas can become the first real hub for air mobility in Bulgaria.
During the Forum on Air Transport Connectivity and Tourism in Burgas, Todor Ivandjikov, President of the Bulgarian Aviation Industry Association, announced that the prototype of the first Bulgarian flying car, developed by BAIA members, is expected to be ready for testing in October.
The first tests are planned to take place in Burgas, with flights to be conducted over the sea for safety reasons.
Ivandjikov noted that test flights with flying cars are currently being carried out between two airports in New York, while in Abu Dhabi they are expected to be launched this autumn. He added:
“I want to bring them to Bulgaria, I want to bring them to Burgas. And everything you see as a project, I want us to build it together with the municipality,” Ivandjikov stated during the forum.
He also presented a broader vision for the future of transport in the Balkans:
• flying taxis in cities
• electric and hybrid small aircraft connecting settlements
• a new type of air connectivity that saves time and facilitates business across the region
• an “Uber-style” model for air transport across the Balkans
According to him, small 14–16-seat electric and diesel aircraft will become widely used in the coming years, and Bulgaria has the opportunity to be among the first countries in the region to develop such a system.
As part of the concept, BAIA also proposes the development of the abandoned Ravnetz Airport as a future base for air taxis and new aviation technologies.
Ivandjikov emphasised that Bulgaria must start developing not only its major airports, but also the smaller airfields across the country.
Support for the idea was expressed by both Manol Todorov, Deputy Mayor of Burgas, and Dobromir Gyulev, Regional Governor, who described such projects as increasingly realistic and important for the future of the region.
BAIA continues to work actively for the development of:
• the low-altitude economy
• Urban Air Mobility
• eVTOL technologies
• drone infrastructure and new transport models
• connecting aviation, technology, education and institutions
The future is no longer a distant concept. It is beginning to be built here and now.
