In July 2023, flights from the Bulgarian capital Sofia to the country’s two main seaside airports in Varna and Burgas were fewer by 13% compared with the same month in the last pre-pandemic year 2019, Sofia Airport operator SOF Connect said on Thursday.
A total of 31,125 passengers flew from Sofia to Varna and Burgas in July 2023, which is more than 4,600 fewer compared with July 2019. Sofia Airport handled a total of 662,440 passengers in July 2023, which was a little under the July 2019 level.
A total of 608,722 passengers used international scheduled services to fly to or from Sofia in July 2023, decreasing by 0.5% compared with July 2019. Another 1,757 people used international charter services, up by 32% from the pre-pandemic level four years earlier.
Airplane traffic is still below the 2019 numbers. In July 2023, Sofia Airport handled 5,660 plane arrivals and departures, fewer by 2% compared with July 2019. Cargo and mail processed by the airport decreased by 23% in July 2023 against July 2019 and amounted to 1,658 tonnes.
According to Sofia Airport’s first annual report compiled in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative, the facility handled 6,003,653 passengers in 2022. About 95% of them were on international flights. Passengers increased by an impressive 78% compared with 2021, almost reaching the pre-pandemic level registered in 2019.
/RY/
