Varna Airport

Varna Airport (Template:Langx) Template:Airport codes is the airport of Varna, the historical maritime capital of Bulgaria. Varna Airport is the third largest airport in Bulgaria. It is located 10 kilometers from the center of Varna near the town of Aksakovo. The airport serves Varna, Golden Sands and northeastern Bulgaria. The busiest season for the airport is from the end of May to the beginning of October.

History

In 2013, a new passenger terminal [Terminal 2] opened and the Terminal 1 constructed In 1972 permanently closed while Terminal 3 opened in 2007, so Varna Airport had only 1 terminal before 2007.Template:Citation needed

There are domestic and international flights from Varna to about 70 destinations in 25 countries, with Bulgarian and foreign airlines. The airport is close to the Port of Varna and the railway system. The airport has one asphalt-covered runway 09/27 with ILS CAT I system on 09 edge and a parking apron for 24 aircraft. In June 2006 the Bulgarian Government awarded Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide a 40-year-long concession on both Varna and Burgas airports in return for investments exceeding €500 million, including a new passenger terminal by 2008.Template:Citation needed

From 15 October 2011 until 28 February 2012, Varna airport was closed for a reconstruction of the runway. All flights were operated to/from Burgas Airport.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2016 the airport handled 1,689,595 passengers - a 20.8% increase compared to 2015.Template:Citation needed

On June 16, 2023 at Varna Airport, "Fraport Twin Star Airport Management" AD officially opened the completely renewed Taxiway (ECHO).Template:Citation needed

Terminals

The airport has three terminals: Terminal 1, built in 1972 (closed), Terminal 3 (opened in June 2007), which was used during the summer season, and the new Terminal 2, opened in August 2013.

Terminal 1

Template:Unreferenced section Terminal 1 (closed) was extended several times over the years. The departures area had 21 check-in counters and six security checkpoints. In the terminal there were various outlets: cafes, fast food restaurants, currency exchange, and duty-free shops. There were ten boarding gates. The arrivals area had two luggage belts, as well as currency exchange and a tax-free shop. Terminal 1 still has a VIP room and business lounge. In 2010, the VIP room was renovated. As of 2014, all flights, including no-frills, are handled at Terminal 2. Hence, the old terminal is closed except the VIP area.

Terminal 2

Terminal 2 started operations on 18 August 2013. In December 2011 the construction work on the new Terminal 2 began. T2 has a capacity of 1,800,000 passengers per year and 25 check-in desks. It covers an area of 18,000 square metres. T2's buildings are designed so that their capacity can be increased as an extension to the existing architectural part.Template:Clarify The first passenger service on T2 was a domestic flight to Sofia operated by the national carrier Bulgaria Air and first international passengers served were on a Belavia flight from Minsk. T2 was designed by London-based architecture firm Pascall+Watson. Template:Citation needed

Airlines and destinations

The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights at Varna Airport:<ref name="varna-airport.com">Template:Cite web</ref>

Statistics

File:VAR RWY.jpg

The runway

File:VarT2-18.JPG

Terminal 2 gate area

File:Varna Airport VAR.jpg

Airport building by night

Traffic

Traffic at Varna Airport

Year	Passengers	Change	Cargo (tonnes)	Change	Aircraft movements	Change
1998	273,678	Template:Nochange	114	Template:NochangeTemplate:Sort	8,920	Template:NochangeTemplate:Sort
1999	511,819	Template:Sort	0	Template:Sort	9,030	Template:Sort
2000	691,689	Template:Sort	0	Template:Nochange	9,425	Template:SortTemplate:Increase4.4%
2001	932,549	Template:Sort	160	Template:Sort	9,549	Template:Sort
2002	1,090,709	Template:Sort	85	Template:Decrease46.9%Template:Sort	9,006	Template:Sort
2003	1,186,349	Template:Sort	0	Template:Decrease100.0%Template:Sort	10,107	Template:Sort
2004	1,337,145	Template:Sort	136	Template:Increase13600.0%Template:Sort	11,277	Template:Sort
2005	1,546,925	Template:Sort	19	Template:Decrease86.0%Template:Sort	13,616	Template:Sort
2006	1,522,658	Template:Sort	289	Template:Increase1421.0%Template:Sort	14,721	Template:Sort
2007	1,478,093	Template:Sort	150	Template:Decrease48.1%Template:Sort	14,971	Template:Sort
2008	1,432,703	Template:Sort	1,004	Template:Increase569.3%Template:Sort	15,129	Template:Sort
2009	1,206,535	Template:Sort	89	Template:Decrease91.1%Template:Sort	12,699	Template:Sort
2010	1,198,956	Template:Sort	83	Template:Decrease6.7%Template:Sort	12,601	Template:Sort
2011	1,165,304	Template:Sort	41	Template:Decrease50.6%Template:Sort	11,263	Template:Sort
2012	1,212,215	Template:Sort	33	Template:Decrease19.5%Template:Sort	10,739	Template:Sort
2013	1,303,865	Template:Sort	35	Template:Increase6.1%Template:Sort	11,516	Template:Increase7.2%
2014	1,387,494	Template:Increase5.2%	74	Template:Increase111.4%Template:Sort	12,063	Template:Increase4.7%<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2015	1,398,694	Template:Increase0.8%	118	Template:Increase57.2%Template:Sort	11,959	Template:Decrease0.9%
2016	1,689,595	Template:Increase20.8%	3,293	Template:Increase2690.7%Template:Sort	14,818	Template:Increase23.9%
2017	1,970,700	Template:Increase16.6%	293	Template:Decrease91.0%	15,950	Template:Increase7.6%<ref name="auto2">Template:Cite web</ref>
2018	2,281,134	Template:Increase15.8%	136	Template:Decrease40.6%	17,776	Template:Increase11.4%
2019	2,084,319	Template:Decrease8.7%	123	Template:Decrease9.3%	15,468	Template:Decrease13.0%
2020	622,215	Template:Decrease70.1%	44	Template:Decrease64.1%	6,881	Template:Decrease55.5%
2021	1,010,494	Template:Increase62.4%	34	Template:Decrease23.9%	9,239	Template:Increase34.3%
2022	1,484,186	Template:Increase46.9%	104	Template:Increase205.8%	11,420	Template:Increase23.6%<ref name="auto2"/>
2023	1,838,828	Template:Increase23.9%	62	Template:Decrease39.8%	13,850	Template:Increase21.3%<ref name="auto2"/>
2024	1,556,798	Template:Decrease-15.3%	136	Template:Increase119.4%	12,282	Template:Decrease-11.3%<ref name="auto2"/>

Top 5 Markets (2023)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Rank	Destination
1	Template:Flagicon Germany
2	Template:Flagicon Poland
3	Template:Flagicon Bulgaria
4	Template:Flagicon United Kingdom
5	Template:Flagicon Turkey<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Ground transport

Bus line 409 connects the airport with Varna city center and resorts nearby (route: Varna Airport – Mall Varna – Varna Bus Station / Grand Mall – City Center – Saints Constantine and Helena - Golden Sands).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Incidents and accidents

• On 7 March 1983, Balkan Bulgarian Airlines Flight 013 was hijacked by four men armed with knives. While they demanded to be taken to Vienna, the pilots tricked the hijackers by landing in Varna. Security forces stormed the plane, arresting three hijackers and killing one hijacker who was threatening the flight attendant.
• On 5 June 1992, Balkan Bulgarian Airlines Tupolev 154B overran runway 27 in bad weather conditions. There were no casualties, but the plane was written off.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• On 24 May 2013, Air VIA flight 502 from Leipzig/Halle to Varna overran runway 09 at Varna Airport after touchdown. Two passengers were injured during evacuation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• On July 8, 2014, Lars Mittank, a German vacationing in Golden Sands, mysteriously disappeared near Varna Airport. Mittank had been alone in Bulgaria the previous two days and reported to be behaving strangely, and was last seen on security cameras fleeing from the airport into the surrounding forest.

See also

• List of airports in Bulgaria
• List of airlines of Bulgaria
• List of the busiest airports in Europe by passenger traffic

External links

• Varna Airport Homepage Template:Webarchive
• History of Varna Airport Template:Webarchive