On December 27 Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev and Transport Minister Petar Moutafchiev officially opened the new Sofia Airport passenger terminal.
After the official ceremony, the terminal welcomed its first passengers coming from Brussels.
The new terminal was one of the biggest projects in Central and Eastern Europe to receive funds from the EU ISPA programme, a Council of Ministers press release said.
Stanishev said that the opening of the terminal four days before Bulgaria became EU member was symbolic. The airport was Bulgaria's 'door' to the world, giving foreign visitors their first impression of the country, said he.
The terminal covers an area of 50 000 sq m and has a parking lot for 820 vehicles.
Seven gateways lead passengers to the aircraft. The runway is 3600m long. It can handle aircraft like Boeing 747.
Moutafchiev said that the new terminal guaranteed passenger safety. Completion of the project meant that Bulgaria could carry out other initiatives in the transport sector, said he as quoted by Focus news agency.
