site.btaBurgas Airport Ready for Bulgaria's Entry in Schengen Area by Air on March 31

Burgas Airport Director Georgi Chipilski told BTA that about 70% of the passengers handled by the airport in the last few years are from countries of the border-free Schengen area. The airport is completely ready for Bulgaria's entry in Schengen by air on March 31, 2024.

This accession is a major step with a great positive impact for the passengers' experience as the passport and visa checks for those from the Schengen area will be lifted, Chipilski said. "Hopefully, this will also increase the airlines' interest and they will launch more programmes in Bulgaria in general and Burgas Airport in particular."

"Terminal 2 of Burgas Airport was designed with a mind to meeting the conditions for servicing passengers from Schengen and non-Schengen countries. In this regard, we will not have to make any significant infrastructure changes. The general infrastructure is prepared for March 31 and Terminal 2 is ready to serve passengers," the Director said. He added that preparations for Bulgaria's Schengen accession started back in 2010.

"Bulgaria's entry in the Schengen area is a relief to passengers as all checks will be lifted, which eliminates stress, and there is always stress, especially when flying. In my opinion, Bulgaria's accession to Schengen by air will definitely play a positive role in the development of tourism. Passengers from Schengen member countries have accounted for 70% of those serviced at Burgas Airport in the last few years. This makes sense because in the last three years, after COVID and since the start of the war in Ukraine, we have lost tourists from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. This has led to a significant change in the shares of Schengen and non-Schengen passengers," Chipilski said.