site.btaHundreds Visit Gorna Oryahovitsa Airport on Its 100th Anniversary

Hundreds of people visited Gorna Oryahovitsa Airport to mark its 100th anniversary on Saturday. Visitors had the opportunity to explore different aircraft, board some of them, and even step inside the airport's fire trucks. The terminal building also attracted interest, with its passport control points, baggage claim area and customs inspection zone.

To commemorate the occasion, the Municipality of Gorna Oryahovitsa has had a short film made, 100 Years of Glory, showcasing the airport's history. The film was screened at the festive event.

Attending the anniversary event were Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov, MPs Dimitar Nikolov (GERB-UDF) and Mariana Boyadjieva (BSP-United Left), Anelia Marinova, Director General of DG Civil Aviation Administration, Rumen Tsankov, Chief Inspector at the Airports, Airport and Ground Handling Operators Department of DG Civil Aviation Administration, Civil Airport Gorna Oryahovica 2016 Plc Executive Manager Anastasiya Yoveva, Engineer Petar Petrov from the same company, Gorna Oryahovitsa Mayor Nikolay Rashkov and his deputies, and municipal councillors, among others.

Executive Manager Anastasiya Yoveva said the concessionaire of Gorna Oryahovitsa Airport has invested over BGN 12 million in infrastructure since 2016. Over BGN 32 million is planned to be invested during the 35-year concession period. Since 2016, over BGN 18 million were invested in maintaining the airport's operational worthiness, including the staff and existing facilities. A major project for runway extension is awaiting approval, including from local government.

Petar Petrov, manager of technical operations at the airport, told reporters that some 1,200 aircraft movements were handled in 2024. At present, Gorna Oryahovitsa Airport serves light aviation, medical and government flights, as well as training flights. Training and practice flights account for a significant part of the airport's operations. This primarily involves military users from the air bases in Vrazhdebna, Dolna Mitropolia and the Benkovski Air Force Academy.

Deputy Prime MinisterAtanas Zafirov commented this is an impressive anniversary, which shows that Gorna Oryahovitsa Municipality has the potential to become a transport and logistics centre. "The systemic political crisis in recent years has left a number of questions, including the status of Gorna Oryahovitsa Airport. Now is the time for the state to address this and other similar cases in the country," he added.