Low-cost air carrier Wizz Air announced on November 27 that it would start new domestic flights from Bulgaria's capital to the sea-side city of Varna. The company said it planned to operate four flights per week between Sofia and Varna.

The plans would make it the first low cost airline to operate domestic flights in Bulgaria, a Wizz Air media statement said.

Introduction of the domestic flights was part of a series of new flights that were being introduced, including flights to Milan-Bergamo, Valencia, Barcelona and Izmir.

The flight to Izmir would be the first low cost route from Bulgaria to a destination outside of the EU.

Inside the EU, flights to London, Rome and Dortmund would increase in frequency.

Wizz Air said it would expand the Sofia base by deploying an additional new Airbus A320 aircraft, starting from July 2008.
The company was launching recruitment for pilots and cabin crew for the new aircraft, to be based in Sofia.

József Váradi, Chief Executive Officer of Wizz Air said that the expansion "will triple Wizz Air's current capacity in Sofia and will further strengthen its market leadership in the Bulgarian low cost airline sector."

"We are especially proud of becoming the first low fare airline flying a domestic service in Bulgaria," he added.

On the domestic flight, the company would compete with local carrier Hemus Air.

Wizz Air has been operating from the Sofia airport since early 2006. Flights to Dortmund had been added in late October 2007.