A number of low-cost airlines will start operating on Bulgaria’s market in a few months. Four low-cost companies have already declared their intention to start flying to Bulgaria after 1 January 2007 when the country joins the EU and the aviation market will be liberalised.

Italian firm Myair announced on 10 October that it will fly from Bologna in Italy to Sofia and Ireland’s Ryanair, the UK’s Easy Jet and Germany’s German Wings have already presented a flight schedule to Sofia airport. A number of air companies have also applied to fly to Bulgaria’s Bourgas airport.

Low-cost companies’ access to Bulgaria was stopped in the past few years in a bid to strengthen Bulgaria’s national flag carrier Bulgaria Air.

Currently only two low-cost companies fly to Bulgaria but they land at remote airports and the flight times are inconvenient.