site.btaTransport Minister Unhappy with How Sofia Airport Looks after Concessionaire Stepped in

July 29 (BTA) - Caretaker Transport Minister Georgi Todorov is unhappy with how Sofia Airport looks after concessionaire SOF Connect stepped in. "To date I am not pleased with what the concessionaire is doing," Todorov told the Bulgarian National Radio. In his words, the public expects swift and timely changes, but changes that concern the service of passengers cannot be seen yet.

The 35-year concession agreement for Sofia Airport was signed with SOF Connect in July 2020. The consortium includes France's Meridiam Eastern Europe Investments SAS and Austria's Strabag, with Munich Airport as airport operator. The concession did not take effect until earlier this year, after all conditions were met by both sides.

A purposeful check of Sofia Airport showed that nothing had changed to date, Todorov added.

"There is no traffic, passenger service is slow, no changes to the shopping areas or the comfort of passengers have been made, hygiene is not sufficiently good and I simply refuse to comment on the toilets," Todorov said. He recalled that the first 100 days from the day the concession became effective will expire soon and that there will be sanctions imposed, as per the concession agreement. LN/BR



/DT/