A SINGLE CONCESSIONAIRE TO MANAGE THE SOFIA AND BALCHIK AIRPORTS

"The airports of the Sofia city and the town of Balchik will be granted under a concession package," stated Deputy Transport Minister Kamen Kichev at the opening of the rehabilitated runway at the Varna Airport. According to him, the concessioning of the Sofia Airport will take a longer period. The concession of the airports of Varna and Burgas is a good example of a successful public-private partnership, stated Transport Minister Ivaylo Moskovski. In fact, the construction of transport infrastructure needs a large amount of funds which the state cannot provide. Therefore, a favourable solution is the setting up of a public-private partnership that leads to a rapid and high quality improvement of the infrastructure, including airports, indicated the Minister.

Currently, pre-concession feasibility studies on the Varna rail ferry complex are being implemented, announced Kichev. Moskovski added that at the moment pre-concession analyses of the Port of Varna are being carried out. They will show the scope of the concession and will be followed by the implementation of economic, financial and social analyses. According to the Transport Minister, the concession process threatens in no way the workers at the port and will even create better labour conditions.

Nearly BGN 40 mln were invested in the modernisation of the runway at the Varna airport, while the repair itself was completed in 137 days. The funds were invested by the concessionaire of the Varna Airport - Fraport Twin Star Airport Management JSC, which also manages the Port of Burgas. "Next year, two new terminals at the airports of Varna and Burgas will be completed," announced Alexander Zinell, Fraport senior Vice President. According to him, with this investment the funds invested in the infrastructure of both airports will reach BGN 120 mln.