site.btaSofia Airport Reports Increase in Passengers Handled in 2022

In 2022, Sofia Airport handled 6,003,653 passengers, a much higher number than 2021, but some 1 million less than those in 2019, the airport said on Tuesday.

A total of 5,461,290 passengers used regular international flights in 2022, or just 17% of the pre-pandemic 2019, 232,260 flew from Sofia to the seaside, which is a decrease of 18%. Charter flights, on the other hand, handled 250,521 passengers - an increase by 15%.

London (with 400,000-plus passengers), Frankfurt (140,000 passengers) and Vienna with approximately the same number of passengers were the most popular destinations in 2022.

Flights in 2022 numbered 53,722, or 12% less compared to the pre-pandemic year. The airport handled 20,529 tonnes of cargo and mail in 2022, or a decrease of 14%.

Europe expects passenger traffic to recover to pre-pandemic levels by 2025 and management is confident it can do better, for 1.0 million seats are already guaranteed thanks to their collaboration with the air carriers, Sofia Airport CEO Jesus Caballero said.

At the end of 2022, Sofia Airport signed a contract with Glavbolgarstroy for the construction of three temporary and one permanent parking lots. Caballero views the contract as a much-expected step towards improvement of the airport’s infrastructure.