site.btaSofia Airport Passenger Numbers Still Below 2019 Levels

Sofia Airport is still recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the airport’s press centre said Monday, citing passenger traffic figures for the first nine months of 2022. Almost 1 million fewer passengers than in 2019, or exactly 4,457,749, were serviced from January to September 2022, airport data show.

The airport notes that passengers usually start to decline in September after the traditionally strong summer months. A total of 600,668 people passed through the capital's airport in September 2022 which is 3.5% less than those who traveled in the same period of 2019. International scheduled flights were used by 531,565 people, which is about 6% less compared to 2019. Passengers on domestic flights numbered 22,928, down by almost 18%.

Charter flights were 48% more in September 2022 compared to the pre-pandemic period.

Aircraft takeoffs and landings in September were 5,087, down 8% from the 2019 total of 5,532.

The amount of mail and cargo shipments handled dropped by 17% and totaled 1,612 tonnes in September 2022.

The main reasons for the lower numbers of passengers compared to 2019 include people's fear of travelling due to COVID-19, and the war in Ukraine. The lack of staff at European airports, flight cancellations by some airlines, and high fuel prices are also affecting the figures, according to airport reports.