March 14 (SeeNews) - Combined passenger traffic at the Bulgarian airports of Varna and Burgas on the Black Sea soared to 86,750 in February, up by an annual 93%, Germany's Fraport Group, which operates the coastal airports, said on Tuesday.
Passenger numbers at Varna Airport jumped to 80,626 in February, 114% more than a year earlier, monthly traffic figures data from Fraport showed. In February, passengers at Burgas Airport declined by an annual 16% to 6,124.
Total passenger numbers at both airports were 141% higher than in the pre-pandemic 2019, the data set showed.
Cargo handled at Bulgaria's two coastal airports tumbled 97% year-on-year to 10 tonnes in the period under review.
Aircraft take-offs and landings increased by an annual 61% to 807 in February.
In its annual report on Tuesday, the German group said that Fraport Twin Star Airport Management generated revenue of 43.5 million euro ($46.6 million) in 2022 compared to 29.3 million euro a year earlier. Net profit last year amounted to 4.2 million euro against 0.9 million euro in 2021.
Fraport Twin Star Airport Management is a 60/40 joint venture of Fraport and Bulgarian company BM Star. Burgas and Varna airports are run by Fraport Twin Star under a 35-year concession contract awarded in 2006. The contract was extended last year until November 2046, with the concession-holder required to make an additional investment of 10 million euro. The operator pays an annual concession fee of 19.2% of total revenue.
Elsewhere in Southeast Europe, Fraport Group operates the airport in Slovenia's capital Ljubljana, as well as 14 airports in Greece. The group also runs an airport in Antalya, Turkey.
($ = 0.9324 euro)