Varna Airport
Varna Airport Летище Варна | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Operator | Fraport Twin Star Airport Management | ||||||||||
| Serves | Varna  | ||||||||||
| Location | Varna, Bulgaria | ||||||||||
| Hub for | 1 | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 70 m / 230 ft | ||||||||||
| Website | www | ||||||||||
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  VAR | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Statistics (2015) | |||||||||||
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Varna Airport (Bulgarian: Летище Варна, Letishte Varna) (IATA: VAR, ICAO: LBWN) is the airport of Varna, the historical maritime capital of Bulgaria. Varna Airport is the third largest airport in Bulgaria and an important destination during the summer leisure seasons. The airport is located 10 kilometers from the center of Varna near the town of Aksakovo. The airport serves Varna and northeastern Bulgaria.
History
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The history of the airport dates back to 1916 when two sheds for the first hydro-port in Bulgaria were built in the Peinerdzhik area (present-day Chaika residential area). Irregular mail-plane service from Sofia to Varna was held between 1919 and 1920 and it was not until 1947 that a permanent airline between the two cities was established. What had grown into Tihina Airport was situated west of the present-day Asparuhov bridge and was indeed quite primitive for the demands of a modern city. Thus in 1946 a decision was made and a new airport was constructed several kilometres west of the city, near the village (now town) of Aksakovo, with local people enthusiastically working on the site together with the constructors. Construction and improvement continued throughout the years, with a new terminal built in 1972 and a new runway in 1974.
In 2013 a new passenger terminal opened and the one constructed in the 20th century was closed down.
There are domestic and international flights form Varna to about 70 destinations in 25 countries, with Bulgarian and foreign airlines. The airport is close to the Port of Varna and the railway system. The airport has one asphalt-covered runway 09/27 with ILS CAT I system on 09 edge and a parking apron for 24 aircraft.
Currently Varna Airport is subject to heavy traffic with the growing tourism industry in Bulgaria and is in need of major investments to modernize, expand and handle projected passenger traffic. In June 2006 the Bulgarian Government awarded Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide a 35-year-long concession on both Varna and Burgas airports in return for investments exceeding €500 million, including a new passenger terminal by 2008.
From 15 October 2011 until 28 February 2012, Varna airport was closed for a reconstruction of the runway. All flights were operated to/from Bourgas Airport.[1]
In 2014 the airport handled 1,387,494 passengers - a 5.2% increase compared to 2013.
Terminals
The airport has three terminals: Terminal 1, built in 1972 (closed), and Terminal 3 (opened in June 2007), which was used during the summer season and the new Terminal 2, opened in August 2013.
Terminal 1
Terminal 1 /closed/ has been extended several times over the years. The departures area had 21 check-in counters and six security checkpoints. In the terminal there were various outlets: cafes, fast food restaurants, currency exchange, and duty-free shops. There were ten boarding gates. The arrivals area had two luggage belts, as well as currency exchange and a tax-free shop. Terminal 1 still has a VIP room and business lounge. In 2010 the VIP room at Varna Airport was renovated. As of 2014, all flights, including no-frills, are managed by Terminal 2. Hence, the old terminal is closed except the VIP area.
Terminal 2
Terminal 2 started operations as of 18 August 2013. In December 2011 the construction work on new Terminal 2 began. T2 has a capacity of 1,800,000 passengers per year and 25 check-in desks. It covers an area of 18,000 m2. T2 buildings are designed so that their capacity could be further increased as an extension to the existing architectural part. The first passenger service on T2 was a domestic flight to Sofia operated by the national carrier Bulgaria Air and first international passengers served were from Minsk with flight of Belavia. T2 was designed by London-based architecture firm Pascall+Watson. Passengers can enjoy a large variety of retail outlets including a Bulgarian souvenir shop. Popular chains such as McDonald's, Costa coffee and beer outlet are available at the gate area right after check-in.
Airlines and destinations
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There are domestic and international flights to about 75 destinations in 29 countries, more than 65 Bulgarian and foreign airlines. The busiest season for the airport is from the end of May to the beginning of October.
Scheduled flights
Seasonal charter flights
Traffic figures
| Year | Domestic | Change | International | Change | Total | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 35,208 | 238,470 | 273,678 | |||
| 1999 | 57,955 |  64.6%
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453,864 | 90.3%
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511,819 | 87%
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| 2000 | 67,508 | 16.5%
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624,181 | 37.5%
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691,689 | 35.1%
|
| 2001 | 48,121 |  28.7%
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884,428 | 41.7%
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932,549 | 34.8%
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| 2002 | 45,457 | 5.5%
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1,045,252 | 12.1%
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1,090,709 | 16.9%
|
| 2003 | 41,583 | 8.5%
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1,144,766 | 9.5%
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1,186,349 | 8.8%
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| 2004 | 47,575 | 14.4%
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1,271,552 | 11.1%
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1,319,127 | 11.2%
|
| 2005 | 49,705 | 4.5%
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1,496,175 | 17.7%
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1,546,925 | 17.3%
|
| 2006 | 54,243 | 9.1%
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1,468,415 | 1.8%
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1,522,658 | 1.6%
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| 2007 | 79,058 | 45.7%
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1,399,035 | 4.7%
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1,478,093 | 2.9%
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| 2008 | 119,459 | 51.1%
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1,313,244 | 6.1%
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1,432,703 | 3.1%
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| 2009 | 155,734 | 30.4%
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1,050,801 | 20%
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1,206,535 | 15.8%
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| 2010 | 154,974 | 0.5%
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1,043,982 | 0.6%
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1,198,956 | 0.6%
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| 2011 | 117,431 | 24.2%
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1,046,453 | 0.2%
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1,163,884 | 2.9%
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| 2012 | 126,952 | 8.1%
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1,084,244 | 3.6%
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1,211,196 | 4.1%
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| 2013 | 130,668 | 2.9%
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1,173,011 | 8.1%
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1,303,679 | 7.6%
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| 2014 |
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1,387,494 | 5.2%
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| 2015 |
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1,398,694[18] | 0.8%
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| 2016 (01.01-31.01) |
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28,144[19] | 24.7%
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Transport links
Bus
The Airport Bus stop to Varna and nearby resorts is located just outside Terminal 2.
Bus line № 409 Route: Varna Airport – Mall Varna– Varna Coach Station for Grand Mall – City Center (the Cathedral) – Saints Constantine and Helena, Bulgaria and Golden Sands Resort[20]
Taxi
The taxi stand is located in front of Terminal 1's departure area. A taxi ride from Varna Airport to the city center takes approximately15 minutes.
Incidents and accidents
- On 24 May 2013, Air VIA flight 502 from Leipzig/Halle to Varna overshot the runway at Varna Airport after touchdown. Two people onboard were injured during evacuation.[21][22]
- On 5 June 1992 Balkan Bulgarian Airlines Tupolev 154B ran off the runway in bad weather conditions. There war no casualties, but the plane was written off.[23]
See also
- List of airports in Bulgaria
- List of airlines of Bulgaria
- List of the busiest airports in Europe by passenger traffic
References
- ^ "Varna Airport Closes for Runway Overhaul in October". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
- ^ Air Serbia flights to Varna goes seasonal [dead link]
- ^ Tyrolean Airways to merge with Austrian Airlines
- ^ http://www.novinite.com/articles/170013/Balkan+Holidays+To+Launch+Glasgow-Varna+Flights+Next+Summer
- ^ https://book.air.bg/plnext/bulgarianNew/Override.action#/FDCS
- ^ "Bulgaria Air Adds Seasonal Varna - Vienna Service June - Sept 2015". Airlineroute.net. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Varna Airport Schedule". Information and Services. Bourgas Airport. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
- ^ http://airlineroute.net/2016/02/12/ew-europe-s16update2/
- ^ http://www.chronicle.bg/%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BE/finnair-%D1%81-%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B8-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B8-%D0%B4%D0%BE-%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%BB%D1%8F%D1%82%D0%BE-2016/
- ^ "Germania Flight Schedule / 30.12.2014 - 01.11.2015" (PDF). Germania.
- ^ http://airlineroute.net/2015/09/17/st-rlg-s16/
- ^ "SmartWings Contact". smartwings.com.
- ^ http://airlineroute.net/2015/09/30/qs-s16update1/
- ^ "SmartWings Flight schedule". smartwings.com.
- ^ "SunExpress Germany S15 Planned New Routes as of 03DEC14". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
- ^ "Enter Air - Siatka połączeń". Enter Air. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
- ^ https://www.germanwings.com/de/buchen/neue-strecken.html
- ^ http://www.fraport.de/content/fraport/de/misc/binaer/investor-relations/verkehrszahlen/2016/verkehrszahlen-dezember-2015/jcr:content.file/verkehrszahlen_2015_dezember.pdf
- ^ http://www.fraport.de/content/fraport/de/misc/binaer/investor-relations/verkehrszahlen/2016/verkehrszahlen-januar-2016/jcr:content.file/01-traffic-sheet-2016-januar_deutsch.pdf
- ^ "Начало". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
- ^ "Морски - Самолет излезе от пистата на летище Варна, две жени са със счупени крайници (допълнена и видео) - видео - Dnevnik.bg". www.dnevnik.bg. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
- ^ "The Aviation Herald". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
- ^ Harro Ranter (5 June 1992). "ASN Aircraft accident Tupolev 154B LZ-BTD Varna Airport (VAR)". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
External links
Media related to Varna Airport at Wikimedia Commons
