SOF grew by a more modest 6% in the same period, slightly ahead of the European average. To help make it a 5-star regional hub, which is a big ambition, SOF Connect formally announced a deal with air transport technology leader SITA at the conference. The tie-up will allow SOF to integrate SITA’s tech in the next 1.5 years in order to deliver a more efficient and passenger-centric experience. “This collaboration underlines our commitment to setting new benchmarks in operational excellence and service quality,” said Caballero.

SOF Connect, whose main shareholder is Meridiam (with 100% of the share capital), has managed Sofia Airport since April 2021. The term is 35 years during which time Meridiam is looking for strong returns while keeping airport charges competitive, and at the same time reducing turnaround times and airlines’ operational costs to encourage more carriers to set up there.

Terminal 3 Progresses

By developing and modernizing Bulgaria’s largest airport in a considered way, growth and revenue should follow. At the handover in 2021, Meridiam promised to invest EUR624 million (US$660 million), as well as contribute to the economic prosperity of the country by playing its part in attracting more tourists and turning Bulgaria into a popular travel destination.

SOF’s new Terminal 3 is part of its 5-star vision and has been floated as a positive investment prospect. At Aviation-Event 2024 SOF, Caballero said that the project, which consists of the construction of a new passenger terminal with adjacent service infrastructure, was moving forward well, with the design revealed a few weeks ago. “The terminal will contribute to the competitiveness of the country and with a capacity for 20 million passengers per year, this will be the largest in the Balkans.”

Krassimira Stoyanova, Bulgaria’s Minister of Transport and Communications, who gave the keynote address at the conference, said: “The construction of the new T3 is a step towards a modern Sofia Airport which we, as a country and society, expect and deserve.”

Spanning 65,000 square meters, the four-level terminal will connect with the existing T2 and is being designed by Bulgarian architecture firm IPA in collaboration with aviation industry engineering companies Egis and 1PAX. Security checkpoints will be able to process up to 3,250 passengers per hour while gate capacity will increase to 34. The building should be operational by 2031.

Thierry Deau, CEO of Meridiam commented: “Our ambition is to transform Sofia Airport into a world-class reference with the highest standards of sustainability and resilience. We and our partners intend to lay the foundations for another long-term success story that will benefit all, joining our existing portfolio of landmark airports such as LaGuardia Central Terminal in New York, Queen Alia International in Jordan), and Ivato and Nosy Bé in Madagascar.”