site.btaNew Primeclass Lounge Opens at Sofia Airport
A new Primeclass Lounge Sofia business lounge officially opened at Vasil Levski Airport on Monday and is now serving passengers. Built by TAV Operation Services in the departures area of Terminal 2, the lounge is the first to be completed under the new Haven on Earth design concept.
With a total indoor area of 540 sq. m. and a 450 sq. m. panoramic terrace overlooking the runway, the lounge can accommodate up to 222 guests. The space is accessible to people with reduced mobility, and a smoking area has been set aside on the terrace.
Passengers can use a food and drinks bar, a relaxation area, a business space with workstations and meeting rooms, a children's corner and free high-speed Wi-Fi. The panoramic terrace offers views of departing and arriving aircraft. The lounge is open to passengers of all airlines and through various airport lounge access programmes. Opening hours begin two hours before the first departing flight and continue until the gate of the last flight of the day closes.
Among those attending the opening ceremony were caretaker Minister of Tourism Irena Georgieva, SOF Connect Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Management Board Jesus Caballero, TAV Operation Services Chief Executive Officer Aude Ferrand, French-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chair Stephan Delaye, Mustafa Kara of the Embassy of Turkiye, BTA Director General Kiril Valchev and others.
Ferrand said the new lounge marks “a new stage for Primeclass and an important moment for airport hospitality in Europe”. She added that the Sofia facility is the first Primeclass Lounge in Europe built under the new concept, with more lounges due to open in Ankara and at Paris-Orly Airport.
“It is a great honour for us to open this lounge at Sofia Airport, a strategic link between regions and a growing aviation hub with rising expectations. Here, hospitality, sustainability and a local approach come together so we can offer passengers a unique experience,” Ferrand said.
Georgieva said tourism is an industry of hospitality and that the impressions created when passengers are welcomed and seen off are key to Bulgaria's image as a destination. She added that the combined efforts of the airport, airlines and institutions show that the country can provide quality service and good air connectivity, which is essential for the development of tourism. Georgieva described the opening of the lounge as a step in the right direction towards the goal of Bulgaria having its first five-star regional airport by 2030.
Caballero said the opening of the new business lounge is the first under this concept model in Europe and an important step in turning Vasil Levski Airport, Sofia into a leader in the sector. He pointed to the partnership with local and international participants, as well as the focus on different passenger profiles, including families, business travellers and visitors looking to relax.
Caballero added that the lounge was designed with a local Bulgarian character, including works by Bulgarian artists, and is meant to create an impressive experience that leaves a positive impression of the country. He said the lounge will continue to develop and improve its services in the coming years.
/YV/
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