Airport investment in Eastern Europe
The Bulgarian Minister of Transport announced in Apr-2015 that the government is studying the possibilities of granting a concession on Sofia Airport. The government backs the drawing of any form of transport infrastructure modernisation as a general policy. The government would apply as well for aid under the EU ‘Juncker Plan’ (a EUR315 billion [USD390 billion] scheme to boost private investment and instigated by new EC President Jean-Claude Juncker, focusing on removing obstacles to investment, providing visibility and technical assistance to investment projects, and making smarter use of new and existing financial resources).
If a concession was to be negotiated, matters would be firstly coordinated with the EC and the European Central Bank. The Minister added, “If we resort to a concession, it will be more successful than those in Varna and Burgas,” (the second and third largest airports and which are majority held by Fraport in the Twin Star consortium for 35 years). It is not immediately obvious what is meant by that comment. Both airports are growing and the consortium is committed to a EUR500 million investment.
Sofia Airport’s traffic has been consistent in the period 2011-2013 and grew fairly sharply in 2014.
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