Ryanair to Launch New Direct Flight from Sofia Starting March 2025
Starting March 30, 2025, a new direct flight route will connect Sofia, Bulgaria, with Pisa, Italy, as announced by Sofia Airport
Ryanair has announced plans to base its fourth aircraft at Sofia Airport and introduce flights to five new destinations this summer season.
The airline's expansion will see the addition of routes to Valencia, Alicante, Bristol, Copenhagen, and Skiathos, bringing the total number of destinations served by Ryanair from Sofia to 40.
The decision to invest further in Bulgaria was revealed during a joint briefing by Jesus Caballero, CEO of SOF Connect, the airport's concessionaire, and Alicja Wojcik-Golebiowska, Ryanair's Manager for Central and Eastern Europe, as reported by BTA.
Ryanair's commitment to the Bulgarian market includes an investment of 100 million euros, with projections indicating an increase of 350,000 passengers annually on the airline's routes to and from Sofia Airport. This significant boost in passenger traffic represents a 23% surge compared to the previous year and is expected to have positive socio-economic implications, including job creation.
Currently, Ryanair operates at four airports in Bulgaria, namely Sofia, Varna, Burgas, and Plovdiv, collectively serving over three million passengers per year.
The airline's expansion underscores its confidence in the Bulgarian market and its commitment to providing travelers with a diverse range of destinations and convenient travel options.
Bulgaria is expecting a boost in winter tourism this year, with about 3.1 million foreign visitors projected between December and March
Bulgaria is expecting a 5% increase in tourist arrivals this winter season, according to acting Minister of Tourism Evtim Miloshev
Tourist interest in Christmas and New Year holiday packages is exceptionally high this year
The heavy snowfall in recent days has created ideal conditions for an early start to the winter season in Bansko
In October, Bulgarians predominantly traveled to neighboring Turkey and Greece, while the largest groups of foreign visitors to Bulgaria came from Romania and Turkey
Airfares around the world are expected to rise in 2025, with ticket prices reflecting both higher operational costs and ongoing supply chain disruptions
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