site.btaPlovdiv Airport Welcomes First Flight from Milan with Official Ceremony

Plovdiv Airport welcomed the first flight from Milan (Malpensa) with an official ceremony on Sunday. The aircraft carried 87 passengers on the newly opened regular Plovdiv–Milan route.

The event was attended by Plovdiv Mayor Kostadin Dimitrov, mayors of municipalities participating in the Plovdiv Airport Development Fund, the airport’s Executive Director Krasimir Peshev, Deputy Mayor for Culture, Archaeology and Tourism Plamen Panov, Plovdiv Regional Governor Prof. Dr. Hristina Yancheva, representatives of the airport management, guests and media.

Mayor Dimitrov said he was pleased to welcome the first flight from Milan and thanked the municipal team and partner municipalities for their joint efforts in developing the airport. “The steps we have taken are already showing results. Plovdiv, as Bulgaria’s cultural capital and former European Capital of Culture, is attracting growing interest in various types of tourism. Our joint efforts have led to tangible progress,” he noted.

He added that the municipality is working to make it easier for residents to travel to nearby European destinations. “Culture, tourism and cooperation among municipalities will all benefit from having an airport close to their regions,” Dimitrov said.

Executive Director Krasimir Peshev announced that Plovdiv Airport now operates 21 flights per week, describing this as a result of the effective cooperation between the Airport Development Fund and the airport. Passenger numbers are expected to reach 200,000 this year, he said, adding that citizens can now vote on the airport’s website for two potential new destinations.

The new Plovdiv–Milan service was officially announced this summer during a press conference at Plovdiv Municipality, attended by Mayor Kostadin Dimitrov, Deputy Mayor Plamen Panov, and Alicja Wojcik-Golebiowska, Communications Director for Central and Eastern Europe at Ryanair.

The regular flights are expected to boost tourism and economic ties between Plovdiv and northern Italy, expanding opportunities for travel and business cooperation in the region. The route will operate year-round, with two flights per week—on Fridays and Sundays.

Another new route operated by Wizz Air will be added to Plovdiv Airport’s portfolio on November 15, linking the city with Bratislava, Slovakia. The airline earlier announced the opening of a new base in Bratislava and the launch of two new direct routes to Bulgaria—from Bratislava to Plovdiv and Varna.