Huge decline in charter flights to Bulgarian coastal resorts of Varna and Bourgas

Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism Mariana Nikolova on August 12 held a working meeting with the Executive Director of Bulgaria Air airline Hristo Todorov and the Commercial Director of the company Maria Stoyanova.

They discussed in detail the measures taken by the government to overcome the Covid-19 crisis, which has seriously affected air travel in the most affected sector of the economy - tourism.

According to the latest data at Bourgas Airport, the decline in charter flights for the 2020 summer season is 83%, and at Varna Airport is 80%.

The government's programme for sponsoring companies performing tourist charter flights to Bulgaria supports them with 35 euros for each seat. The measure is designed for 400 000 tourists for the next two years and is worth a total of 55 million BGN.

The Minister also stressed that all hotels and restaurants strictly observe the sanitary and hygienic requirements against the virus and expressed confidence that this is done by flight crews.

Hristo Todorov said that all necessary measures for disinfection and physical distance during the flights are taken by the crews. He assured that the planes already have hepa filters that purifies the air in the cabins.

All passengers are required to wear masks during flights, and in the toilets there is hot water and disinfectants.

The Executive Director welcomes the measure for sponsoring tourist charter flights, which will reduce by almost 20% the cost of the service for European lines. He ensured that that it will be included in the negotiations with partner companies for the next seasons.

The possibilities for promoting charter flights on other markets such as Turkey, Russia, Belarus, Israel, etc. were also discussed, when the conditions of reciprocity in the epidemic situation allow it.

Source: BNT