On Wednesday, July 26, 2023, Varna Airport in Bulgaria passed the one million passenger mark this year. Passenger number 1.000.001 traveled from Vienna to the Black Sea city with Austrian Airlines.

He was welcomed by the management of the Bulgarian Fraport Airport and the mayor of the city of Varna, Ivan Portnikh. The anniversary passenger received a souvenir backpack and suitcase specially branded for the occasion from Fraport Twin Star Airport Management AD with a desire to keep visiting Bulgaria and was treated to a red backpack from Austrian Airlines.

This year, Varna Airport welcomed its 1.000.001st passenger more than a month earlier than in 2022, an indicator of the seaport's traffic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a significant drop in air traffic worldwide. This year Varna Airport also experienced the busiest winter season in its history, offering a variety of destinations - 18, handling a record number of flights and passengers. For the first half of the year (January-June 2023), the airport reported growth of +58% compared to 2022 and +9% compared to pre-pandemic figures in 2019.

Austrian Airlines has been flying to Varna Airport since 2005 and has successfully connected Varna and the region with many countries around the world for 18 years with its extensive route network. On the Vienna-Varna route alone, almost 12.000 flight movements have been carried out and around 1.000.000 passengers carried, which proves the popularity of this route over the years. It is served all year round, with daily flights in the summer season and 4 weekly flights in the winter.

“We are proud to celebrate passenger number 1.000.001 together with our long-term partner Varna Airport today! This impressive number is a milestone in our successful cooperation since 2005 and we would like to express our gratitude to Varna Airport as its professionalism and efficiency are fundamental to the smooth operation of our flights. We look forward to continuing to offer an excellent travel experience together and leading our partnership into a successful future,” says Michael Trestl, Chief Commercial Officer of Austrian Airlines.