Passenger traffic at Bulgaria's coastal airports falls 11.8% in Jan-Aug - Fraport

Passenger traffic at Varna airport dropped by an annual 12.9% to 1.5 million in the first eight months of this year, while passenger numbers at Burgas airport decreased 11.1% to 2.4 million, Fraport said in a monthly report.

Combined aircraft movements at the two airports declined 14.7% to 27,307 in the review period. At Varna airport, aircraft take-offs and landings fell 16.8% to 11,050, while at Burgas airport aircraft movements decreased 13.2% to 16,257.

Cargo handled at the two airports fell 33.9% to 3,746 t. Nearly all of it - 3,656 t. - was handled at Burgas airport.

Last month, Fraport said that it expects the passenger traffic at the two Bulgarian airports to decrease by up to 10% year-on-year in 2019 after the airports posted a drop of 12.9% to 1.44 million on an annual basis in the first half of the year. The cancellation of WizzAir's service to Sofia, fewer travellers to and from Russia, Poland and Germany, the reduction in Ryanair flights as well as the resurgent tourism in Turkey, Tunisia and Egypt all had a negative impact on the passenger traffic at the airports of Varna and Burgas, Fraport said at the time.

Fraport Twin Star Airport Management, a 60/40 joint venture of Fraport and Bulgarian company BM Star, is operating the two airports under a 35-year concession awarded in 2006.