site.btaOver EUR 110 Mln Invested in Burgas and Varna Airports; New Railway and Coastal Upgrades Announced

To date, the two international airports on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, in Burgas and Varna, have accumulated more than EUR 110 million in investments. This year alone, a further EUR 12.5 million will be invested in the runway at Burgas Sarafovo Airport, which is currently operating at full capacity, Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov said on Saturday during an off-site meeting of the National Assembly’s Tourism Committee in the seaside resort of Sozopol.

According to the minister, this year marks the last opportunity for the runway to operate safely, which is why it will be closed from November to April for repairs.

“Afterwards, the airport will be able to accommodate aircraft of all sizes, from the smallest to the largest. We hope this will attract more tourists, ideally year-round,” Karadjov added, noting that unlike Varna, Burgas Airport has little winter traffic.

Karadjov stressed that tourism cannot thrive without efficient transport. He added that tourism requires a convenient, fast, and well-organized system to get people to their holiday destinations.

“We at the ministry are trying to respond to every issue,” he noted, highlighting the launch of new express trains from Sofia to Varna and Burgas this summer.

“They’re faster than bus transport, admittedly only by a few minutes, but still faster. So far, we’ve seen strong demand for them. What remains is to improve the quality of the rolling stock, which frankly leaves much to be desired,” Karadjov said.

Regarding the Port of Burgas, the minister announced that some of the berths will be converted into a public waterfront promenade.

“Due to shallow waters and limited draught in certain areas, we plan to transform part of the port into a leisure zone accessible to residents and visitors. Instead of investing heavily in dredging, we will follow the example of other coastal cities and turn the old port into a public space,” Karadjov explained. He added that a joint plan is already in motion with the State Enterprise “Port Infrastructure” (SEPI).

“We’re also building a multi-storey car park so visitors can easily park,” he added.

Karadjov also announced a plan to revitalize the coastal area of St Kirik Island near Sozopol. “We could develop something similar there as well, using SEPI’s resources and capacity. It’s not just a port authority, it’s also responsible for the coastline and its enhancement. These are investments far beyond the means of a single municipality. If Sozopol, for instance, had to manage it alone, it would be impossible,” he emphasized.

In conclusion, the transport minister reiterated plans to build a railway link between Burgas Airport and the regional capital.

“The current bus connection is ineffective due to frequent traffic jams,” he explained. “We are planning a 14-kilometre rail line that will also serve neighbouring municipalities. It’s already included in our EU funding programmes. I believe other Black Sea municipalities will benefit greatly from this project.”