From left to right: Stoyan Pasev (Varna Regional Governor), Ulrich Heppe (CEO Fraport Twin Star), Ms. Svetlana Hunt (the 35 millionth passenger), Ivan Portnih (Mayor of Varna) and Alper Kasikci (General Manager for Turkish Airlines in Varna).
Over the past decade, combined traffic at VAR and BOJ has increased by more than one million passengers – from 3.4 million passengers in 2007 to 4.5 million passengers in 2016.
Last week Fraport Twin Star Airport Management AD – the operator of Varna (VAR) and Burgas (BOJ) airports – officially celebrated the 35th million passenger to use its twin airports on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast since the company began its operating concession 10 years ago. In 2006, the Bulgarian government awarded Fraport Twin Star a 35-year concession to operate and develop BOJ and VAR. To date, Fraport Twin Star has invested more than 350 million BGN for developing and modernizing the infrastructure, upgrading all technical facilities and equipment, and for training and qualifying employees at both airports.
The welcoming of the 35 millionth passenger on October 26, 2016, is a milestone highlighting the development of Varna and Burgas airports and the tourism industry along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Over the past decade, combined traffic at VAR and BOJ has increased by more than one million passengers – from 3.4 million passengers in 2007 to 4.5 million passengers in 2016. Commenting on this achievement, CEO Ulrich Heppe of Fraport Twin Star Airport Management AD said: “We are pleased to reach this milestone of 35 million passengers in our first decade of managing the Varna and Burgas gateways on Bulgaria’s spectacular Black Sea coast. Varna and Burgas have together achieved more than a 30 percent rise in traffic in this period. We are convinced that this successful trend will continue in the future.”
The 35 millionth passenger, Svetlana Hant – who arrived at Varna Airport on Turkish Airlines flight TK1051 from Istanbul – often travels on the airport’s newest Varna-Istanbul-Varna scheduled route. The special guest was welcomed by the management of Fraport Twin Star, the airport directors of Varna and Burgas, as well as the mayor and the governor of Varna. Ms. Hant was also happily surprised with many attractive gifts provided by Fraport Twin Star and Turkish Airlines, including a voucher for two people to stay at a five-star spa hotel on the southern Bulgarian Black Sea coast, a round-trip ticket to any desired destination within Turkish Airlines worldwide network, and a branded suitcase full of smaller gifts.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
