Bulgaria Air
Encyclopedia
Bulgaria Air is the flag carrier
airline
of Bulgaria
, with its head office on the grounds of Sofia Airport
in Sofia
. The company is owned by Chimimport Inc and is a leader in terms of market share. In 2008, according to the company's Annual Report, Bulgaria Air had 1,185,430 passengers.
Bulgaria Air’s fleet consists of 16 aircraft, designed for short and medium range flights.
. By order of the Minister of Transport and Communications it was declared the national flag carrier in November 2002, starting operations on the 4th of December, 2002. The name and initial logo were determined by a public competition. Bulgaria Air was privatised in 2006; although it was rumoured that the government wanted to sell the carrier to a major foreign investor, a union of locally-owned companies, led by Hemus Air
, emerged as the buyer with Italian Air One
being the only other contender. Hemus Air reportedly paid €6.6m and promised to invest a further €86m over the next five years. Since then all flights and operations of Hemus Air
and its subsidiary Viaggio Air
are under name and management of the merged company, Bulgaria Air.
On 20 November 2008, Bulgaria Air became a full member of the International Air Transport Association
(IATA).
Bulgaria Air initially began operations by the name of "Balkan Air Tour." The airline
was known by that name for a short period of time; in November 2002, public contests were held in Bulgaria
to determine a name and logo for the new airline. Thousands of people showed their creativity and voiced their opinions and after searching through countless submissions, the name and logo were chosen. The design was used for about 4 years, until 2006, when an improved, more professional design was created. That logo design was used into early 2010 and a Cyrillic version was even created which was to replace the English
titles on one side of the planes. However, after the full fleet merge of Hemus Air
and Viaggio Air
, a new livery
had to, once again, be developed. After some leaked photos of a new design surfaced in online forums, they were met with public distaste and critique. This seemingly sent the designers back into development and postponed the new livery's release even further. Finally, in mid-2010, the first Bulgaria Air Airbus A319
was rolled out wearing the finalised colour scheme.
In mid-2011 Bulgaria Air
announced that after a thorough analysis of their destinations they had chosen to purchase 7 new Embraer E-190 aircraft. The aircraft will most likely come with a 108 seat configuration (8 Business, 100 Economy). The delivery of the first examples is scheduled for early 2012, whilst the remaining aircraft will be delivered in spring/summer 2012.
, including two domestic routes to Burgas
and Varna
. During the summer season Bulgaria Air operates seasonal flights to and from Burgas
and Varna
airports.
, starting in 2009, the company now offers a new service for business and VIP clients – booking a luxury flight with a custom schedule for their business trip. The passenger compartment of the new aircraft is equipped with 26 armchairs, couches, dining tables and multiple LCD displays, as well as on-board Wi-Fi
Internet access.
Flag carrier
A flag carrier is a transportation company, such as an airline or shipping company, that, being locally registered in a given country, enjoys preferential rights or privileges, accorded by the government, for international operations. It may be a state-run, state-owned or private but...
airline
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
of Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, with its head office on the grounds of Sofia Airport
Sofia Airport
Sofia Airport , sometimes also called Letishte Sofia-Vrazhdebna , is the main airport in Sofia, Bulgaria. Located east of central Sofia. In 2010 the number of passengers was 3.3 million...
in Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
. The company is owned by Chimimport Inc and is a leader in terms of market share. In 2008, according to the company's Annual Report, Bulgaria Air had 1,185,430 passengers.
Bulgaria Air’s fleet consists of 16 aircraft, designed for short and medium range flights.
Company
The airline was established in 2002 as a successor to the insolvent Balkan Bulgarian AirlinesBalkan Bulgarian Airlines
Balkan Airlines was Bulgaria's government-owned flag carrier between 1947 and 2002. During the 1970s the airliner became a significant European carrier. The company encountered financial instability following the fall of communism in Eastern Europe...
. By order of the Minister of Transport and Communications it was declared the national flag carrier in November 2002, starting operations on the 4th of December, 2002. The name and initial logo were determined by a public competition. Bulgaria Air was privatised in 2006; although it was rumoured that the government wanted to sell the carrier to a major foreign investor, a union of locally-owned companies, led by Hemus Air
Hemus Air
Hemus Air was an airline based in Sofia, Bulgaria. It operated scheduled domestic and international services from Sofia and Varna, as well as charter, cargo and air ambulance services. Its main base was Sofia Airport, with a hub at Varna Airport...
, emerged as the buyer with Italian Air One
Air One
Air One "Smart Carrier" is Alitalia's LCC subsidiary based in Milan Malpensa Airport and headquartered in Fiumicino, Italy. Before the merger with Alitalia, Air One was a competitor, the second largest airline in Italy, with a high-frequency scheduled network to 36 destinations in Italy, Europe and...
being the only other contender. Hemus Air reportedly paid €6.6m and promised to invest a further €86m over the next five years. Since then all flights and operations of Hemus Air
Hemus Air
Hemus Air was an airline based in Sofia, Bulgaria. It operated scheduled domestic and international services from Sofia and Varna, as well as charter, cargo and air ambulance services. Its main base was Sofia Airport, with a hub at Varna Airport...
and its subsidiary Viaggio Air
Viaggio Air
Viaggio Air was a private airline based and registered in Sofia, Bulgaria in September 2002.- History :It started operations with an ATR 42 aircraft on 27 February 2003. It firstly started operating flights to Vienna and Istanbul and had plans to operate to Kiev and Athens...
are under name and management of the merged company, Bulgaria Air.
On 20 November 2008, Bulgaria Air became a full member of the International Air Transport Association
International Air Transport Association
The International Air Transport Association is an international industry trade group of airlines headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where the International Civil Aviation Organization is also headquartered. The executive offices are at the Geneva Airport in SwitzerlandIATA's mission is to...
(IATA).
Bulgaria Air initially began operations by the name of "Balkan Air Tour." The airline
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
was known by that name for a short period of time; in November 2002, public contests were held in Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
to determine a name and logo for the new airline. Thousands of people showed their creativity and voiced their opinions and after searching through countless submissions, the name and logo were chosen. The design was used for about 4 years, until 2006, when an improved, more professional design was created. That logo design was used into early 2010 and a Cyrillic version was even created which was to replace the English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
titles on one side of the planes. However, after the full fleet merge of Hemus Air
Hemus Air
Hemus Air was an airline based in Sofia, Bulgaria. It operated scheduled domestic and international services from Sofia and Varna, as well as charter, cargo and air ambulance services. Its main base was Sofia Airport, with a hub at Varna Airport...
and Viaggio Air
Viaggio Air
Viaggio Air was a private airline based and registered in Sofia, Bulgaria in September 2002.- History :It started operations with an ATR 42 aircraft on 27 February 2003. It firstly started operating flights to Vienna and Istanbul and had plans to operate to Kiev and Athens...
, a new livery
Livery
A livery is a uniform, insignia or symbol adorning, in a non-military context, a person, an object or a vehicle that denotes a relationship between the wearer of the livery and an individual or corporate body. Often, elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or corporate body feature in...
had to, once again, be developed. After some leaked photos of a new design surfaced in online forums, they were met with public distaste and critique. This seemingly sent the designers back into development and postponed the new livery's release even further. Finally, in mid-2010, the first Bulgaria Air Airbus A319
Airbus A320 family
The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
was rolled out wearing the finalised colour scheme.
In mid-2011 Bulgaria Air
Bulgaria Air
Bulgaria Air , is the flag carrier airline of Bulgaria, with its head office on the grounds of Sofia Airport in Sofia. The company is owned by Chimimport Inc and is a leader in terms of market share...
announced that after a thorough analysis of their destinations they had chosen to purchase 7 new Embraer E-190 aircraft. The aircraft will most likely come with a 108 seat configuration (8 Business, 100 Economy). The delivery of the first examples is scheduled for early 2012, whilst the remaining aircraft will be delivered in spring/summer 2012.
Destinations
Bulgaria Air operates 27 routes from Sofia AirportSofia Airport
Sofia Airport , sometimes also called Letishte Sofia-Vrazhdebna , is the main airport in Sofia, Bulgaria. Located east of central Sofia. In 2010 the number of passengers was 3.3 million...
, including two domestic routes to Burgas
Burgas
-History:During the rule of the Ancient Romans, near Burgas, Debeltum was established as a military colony for veterans by Vespasian. In the Middle Ages, a small fortress called Pyrgos was erected where Burgas is today and was most probably used as a watchtower...
and Varna
Varna
Varna is the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv, with a population of 334,870 inhabitants according to Census 2011...
. During the summer season Bulgaria Air operates seasonal flights to and from Burgas
Burgas Airport
Burgas International Airport , is the airport of Burgas , Bulgaria.In 2009, the airport handled 1,683,786 passengers. In 2010, it handled 1,872,618 passengers, a 11.2% increase compared to 2009.-Future plans and expansion:...
and Varna
Varna Airport
-Seasonal Charter flights:-Passenger statistic:-See also:* List of airports in Bulgaria* List of airlines of Bulgaria* List of the busiest airports in Europe by passenger traffic-External links:* *...
airports.
Codeshare agreements
Bulgaria Air has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:
|
Iberia Airlines Iberia Líneas Aéreas de España, S.A., commonly known as Iberia, is the flag carrier airline of Spain. Based in Madrid, it operates an international network of services from its main bases of Madrid-Barajas Airport and Barcelona El Prat Airport.... (Oneworld Oneworld Oneworld , branded as oneworld, is one of the world's three largest global airline alliances with its central management team, oneworld Management Company, based in New York City, New York, USA. Oneworld was founded in 1999 by American Airlines, British Airways, Canadian Airlines, Cathay Pacific... ) SkyTeam SkyTeam, branded as SKYTEAM, is an airline alliance with its centralised management team, SkyTeam Central, based at the World Trade Center Schiphol Airport on the grounds of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands... ) LOT Polish Airlines Polskie Linie Lotnicze LOT S.A. , trading as LOT Polish Airlines, is the flag carrier of Poland. Based in Warsaw, LOT was established in 1929, making it one of the world's oldest airlines still in operation. Using a fleet of 55 aircraft, LOT operates a complex network to 60 destinations in Europe,... (Star Alliance Star Alliance Star Alliance is the world's first and largest airline alliance, headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany . The alliance was founded in 1997 by five of the world's leading airlines: Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways International and United Airlines... ) Malév Hungarian Airlines Malév Hungarian Airlines is the flag carrier and principal airline of Hungary. It has its head office in the Lurdy House in Budapest, with its main operations at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport. From there, the airline flies to 50 cities in 34 countries worldwide using a fleet of 22... (Oneworld Oneworld Oneworld , branded as oneworld, is one of the world's three largest global airline alliances with its central management team, oneworld Management Company, based in New York City, New York, USA. Oneworld was founded in 1999 by American Airlines, British Airways, Canadian Airlines, Cathay Pacific... ) TAROM S.C. Compania Națională de Transporturi Aeriene Române TAROM S.A., doing business as TAROM Romanian Air Transport, is the flag carrier and oldest currently operating airline of Romania. The brand name is an acronym for... (SkyTeam SkyTeam SkyTeam, branded as SKYTEAM, is an airline alliance with its centralised management team, SkyTeam Central, based at the World Trade Center Schiphol Airport on the grounds of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands... ) |
Charter flights
Currently the company serves over 60 leading tour operators, air transport brokers, airlines and other companies of the aviation and tourist industries, performing charter flights to over 80 destinations in Europe, Africa and Asia.Fleet
| Total | Orders | Passengers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Y | Total | ||||
| Airbus A319-100 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 132 | 144 | |
| Airbus A320-214 | 3 | 0 | — | 180 | 180 | |
| Avro RJ70 | 1 | 0 | 26 VIP | private and VIP charters | ||
| BAe 146-200 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 76 | 84 | |
| BAe 146-300 | 3 | 0 | — | 110 | 110 | |
| Embraer ERJ-190 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 100 | 108 | Deliveries first and third quarters of 2012 |
| Total | 15 | 7 | Last updated: 8 November 2011 | |||
Private business flights
Thanks to Bulgaria Air’s new Avro RJ70 Business JetBusiness jet
Business jet, private jet or, colloquially, bizjet is a term describing a jet aircraft, usually of smaller size, designed for transporting groups of up to 19 business people or wealthy individuals...
, starting in 2009, the company now offers a new service for business and VIP clients – booking a luxury flight with a custom schedule for their business trip. The passenger compartment of the new aircraft is equipped with 26 armchairs, couches, dining tables and multiple LCD displays, as well as on-board Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
Internet access.
Accidents and incidents
- On 10 December 2010: a Bulgaria Air Airbus A320-200, registration LZ-FBE performing flight from Sofia AirportSofia AirportSofia Airport , sometimes also called Letishte Sofia-Vrazhdebna , is the main airport in Sofia, Bulgaria. Located east of central Sofia. In 2010 the number of passengers was 3.3 million...
to Moscow Sheremetyevo AirportSheremetyevo International AirportSheremetyevo International Airport , is an international airport located in the Moscow Oblast, Russia, north-west of central Moscow. It is a hub for the passenger operations of the Russian international airline Aeroflot, and one of the three major airports serving Moscow along with Domodedovo...
with 29 passengers and 7 crew, lost part of the right hand engine's cowling during rotation for takeoff, the debris caused an oil leak. The crew shut the engine down and returned to Sofia for a safe landing about 20 minutes after departure.