Business: 31 January 2005, Monday.
Low-Fare Airlines Eye Bulgarian Market
Polish and Italian companies have reportedly declared their interest in launching low-fare flights on the Bulgarian market once the country opens its air space for European air carriers, due in 2007.
The companies have already hired Bulgarian consultants, local 24 Hours Daily reported.
In the middle of last year European air companies said they may set at EUR 30-40 the price for a return ticket to Bulgaria's Black Sea coast.
Hungary's low-cost airline WIZZ Air has already declared its interest in launching flights to Bulgaria and Romania after the two countries sign an "Open Sky" agreement. Sky Europe, the first low fare airline in Central Europe, and Ireland's Ryanair budget flight company are also willing to fly to Varna and Burgas on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast.
At the beginning of January a new low-fare airline announced it would start regular flights to several destinations in the second quarter of 2005.
The Transport Ministry was quick to warn that Imagine Air plans to take over the niche from recently closed Bexx Air and is not authorized to carry out aviation services.
Meanwhile local air carriers announced they plan to service more flights to third countries, from Germany to Spain for instance, once the country opens sky.
At present Bulgarian Air Charter flies to Russia and Ukraine and from the resort island of Kish in the Persian Gulf to Iran, Hemus Air - from Albania to Italy and the Equatorial Guinea.
Cheers,
White Cap
