newstodate.aero
Aug 25, 2011 (newstodate): The Bulgarian government is determined to see commercial operations starting at Balchik Airport in 2012.
To speed up the process, the government has decided to put the management of the former AFB Balchik into the hands of the state-owned company Airport Sofia.
By this move, the investments in redeveloping the air force base into a commercial airport might be footed by Sofia Airport, while direct state investments into the project would require EU approval.
Balchik Airport is on the shores of the Black Sea where Varna Airport is the main provider of air traffic.
The opening of Balchik Airport would take the seasonal pressure off Varna Airport.
Sofia Airport remains under state ownership, while the two Black Sea airport of Varna and Bourgas are managed by Fraport after a complex tender process completed in 2008.
Developing Balchik Airport would thus also secure the Bulgarian state a stake in the growing Black Sea airport revenues.
To speed up the process, the government has decided to put the management of the former AFB Balchik into the hands of the state-owned company Airport Sofia.
By this move, the investments in redeveloping the air force base into a commercial airport might be footed by Sofia Airport, while direct state investments into the project would require EU approval.
Balchik Airport is on the shores of the Black Sea where Varna Airport is the main provider of air traffic.
The opening of Balchik Airport would take the seasonal pressure off Varna Airport.
Sofia Airport remains under state ownership, while the two Black Sea airport of Varna and Bourgas are managed by Fraport after a complex tender process completed in 2008.
Developing Balchik Airport would thus also secure the Bulgarian state a stake in the growing Black Sea airport revenues.