Local low-cost carriers squeezed out from Bulgarian market

19:01 Tue 04 Mar 2008 - www.propertywisebulgaria.com

Low-cost international carriers are facing little competition from their Bulgarian counterparts, Pari daily reported on March 4.

Established low-cost airlines on the Bulgarian aviation market, such as Sky Europe and Wizz Air, are increasing the frequency of flights to Sofia and Bulgaria's Black Sea resorts. Meanwhile, new carriers, who rely mostly on seasonal flights to Varna and Bourgas, are finding it hard to break onto the market.

Wizz Air announced on March 4 that it would expand its Sofia base by opening a new route to Brussels' South Charleroi Airport, starting from 24 July 2008. Tickets are already on sale on the company web site. With the new Sofia - Brussels Charleroi service Wizz Air will offer a network of eight destinations from the Bulgarian capital, a company statement said.

Wizz Air has announced earlier that it would continue to further strengthen its position in Bulgaria by deploying an additional new Airbus A320 type aircraft starting from 12 July 2008. The airline will start new flights from Sofia to Varna, Milan-Bergamo, Valencia, Barcelona and Izmir, and will increase frequencies on existing services to London, Rome and Dortmund.

Also on March 4, Aer Lingus announced a new flight from Dublin to Bourgas in Bulgaria. The new route is the first by Aer Lingus Bulgaria and the only scheduled service from Ireland. From mid-June the airline will operate two flights weekly. In addition to its flight deals, the operator's website offers discounts on over 80 000 hotels worldwide with four-star Bulgarian hotels included as well.

Airports in Varna and Bourgas may become bases for low-cost companies after they open new terminals. The development of the airport in Plovdiv is another possibility for attracting this type of air carrier. Not long ago Sky Europe launched the idea of setting up a powerful airline based at the Plovdiv airport, which may not be the classic type of air carrier.

No Bulgarian investors are currently willing to launch low-cost carriers, according to Zahari Aleksiev, general director of Bulgaria's Civil Aviation Administration, as quoted by Pari daily. There is also little interest in setting up new conventional Bulgarian carriers.

Comments

Comments by patricia walker - 11:40 05 Mar 2008
	It is to be hoped that budget airlines start to service the coastal airport such as varna soon - the lack of cheap flights from uk is having a very negative effect. I have lots of family members who want to come out to us when we are in Bulgaria (we are in Balchik area) but the cost prevents them from doing so. I have spoken to lots of British people who say they have regretted buying because of this lack of cheap flights. We bought our property over 3 years ago and found it was cheaper two years ago to come out than it is now. People can get holidays in hotels in Bulgaria for nearly as much as they have to pay for flights. Tricia
Comments by john - 09:54 18 Mar 2008
	Into Varna region there is a decline of tourist numbers.The sandy beaches are small,the summer season is shorter than the South, the infrastructure is poor so the present owners have to face the music accept the current situation and the future which does not look rosy for earnings.