The new terminal of Sofia Airport will not open in time for the Christmas rush as initially planned, the transport ministry announced.

Officials from the ministry commented the delay was not caused by technical reasons, but declined to further elaborate.

The first plane will land on the new airport on December 27, seven delays behind schedule.

The Directorate for National Construction Control allowed Wednesday the new passengers' terminal at Sofia airport to be put into exploitation. A day earlier the green light was given for the runway system and the adjacent facilities.

The whole modernized complex was expected to be into operations at the end of January. The first flight is expected to land at the new site on 27 December, before all major carriers are eventually moved from the old terminal.

The old terminal will serve only low-cost airlines and charter flights.

The airline companies, which fly to and from Sofia airport, and their offices will be gradually re-directed from the old to the new terminal.

Baggage conveyors and check-in counters will start working the moment the first airline company takes off.

Sofia Airport, which was built in the 1930s, has become too small to deal with the number of flights and size of modern day aircraft.

Financing for the project was secured in 1997 after plans, which include a runway which crosses the river Iskar on a bridge, were presented to the European Investment Bank.

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