Burgas and Varna airports have handled more than 3 million passengers combined since the beginning of 2026, marking a positive development for air travel along Bulgaria's Black Sea coast.
The milestone is particularly notable for Burgas Airport, which resumed operations only on May 1 after a major runway rehabilitation project costing more than 60 million euros. The extensive works kept the airport closed during the early part of the year.
Fraport management said the aviation sector continues to face a number of challenges. These include high aviation fuel costs and a significant decline in the German market following the end of a partnership between two airlines that had provided an important share of the air connections between Germany and Bulgaria's Black Sea coast.
Despite these difficulties, both airports expanded their networks during the 2026 summer season, adding new destinations and markets while increasing the frequency of flights on existing routes.
Fraport said the latest figures demonstrate positive momentum in passenger traffic, although annual traffic at the two airports is still expected to remain below pre-pandemic levels.
