Plovdiv International Airport Company

What Plovdiv International Airport Company does

Plovdiv International Airport Company ("Летище Пловдив" ЕАД) is a Bulgarian state-owned single-member joint-stock company that operates the regional airport serving South-Central Bulgaria. The airport is located in Krumovo, 12 km southeast of Plovdiv, the country's second-largest city and cultural capital, and serves a catchment of over 2 million people within 1.5 hours' driving distance. The company's infrastructure includes a 2,500 m x 45 m concrete runway (12/30) with PCN 37/R/B/X/T rating, an ILS CAT I precision approach on runway 30, DVOR/DME navigation aids, PAPI visual approach indicators, and a 7,350 sq m passenger terminal capable of handling 600 passengers per hour at peak. The terminal has been operational since August 2009 and the company holds ISO 9001, 14001, 27001, and 45001 certifications, plus licensed Airport Operator and Ground Handling Operator status under Bulgarian civil aviation law.

The company generates revenue from multiple streams: government-mandated airport fees (state fees set at roughly half the rate of other Bulgarian airports), passenger and parking fees, ground handling services for airlines (covering passenger, cargo, and business flight operations), a 10-seat premium Business Lounge (65 EUR per use), B2B rental and advertising within the terminal targeting over 100,000 annual passengers, car rental referral commissions, and shuttle bus services. Its core customer segments are scheduled and charter airlines (notably Ryanair and Wizz Air as anchor tenants), tourists traveling to the Rhodope Mountains and Plovdiv's cultural sites, business travelers attending the Plovdiv International Fair, and ground transport users.

Plovdiv Airport operates through a sales-led model targeting airlines via competitive pricing and a unique channel-partnership structure: the Fund for Development of Plovdiv Airport — The South Gate of Bulgaria (Фонд за развитие на Летище Пловдив), a civil association established in 2010 by three municipalities and expanded to 12 municipalities plus 3 legal entities (Pamporovo AD, Grand Hotel Plovdiv, Fund Phoenix) — subsidizes regular air routes, negotiates directly with carriers, and runs international marketing campaigns for the region. By late 2025 the airport handled 21 weekly flights to European destinations (London Stansted, London Luton, Birmingham, Milano Malpensa, Bratislava), up from 14 weekly flights to four destinations in 2022. The company's headcount is 51-100 employees and no revenue is publicly disclosed.

Name

Plovdiv International Airport Company

Legal name

"Летище Пловдив" ЕАД

Website

https://plovdivairport.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Plovdiv International Airport Company is a Bulgarian state-owned operator of a regional airport serving South-Central Bulgaria, offering scheduled and charter passenger services, cargo handling, and ground handling for airlines including Ryanair and Wizz Air across five European destinations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Airport Operations

NAICS

Airport Operations (48811), Other Airport Operations (488119), Support Activities for Air Transportation (4881)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581), Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation Infrastructure Agencies (Public Airports, Airfield Ops, Ground Access) (BPAIALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Airport Ground Support Vehicles (Tugs, Baggage Tractors, Deicers) (IMAHAIAF), Private Aviation Ground Support & Trip Services (Dispatch, Permits, Handling) (THABAFAK), Airport Transfer Services (Meet-and-Greet, Fixed-Route) (THADAEAG)

Keywords

• Regional airport operations
• Passenger aviation services
• Ground handling services
• Air cargo handling
• Airport terminal services

Headquarters

HQ city

Krumovo

HQ country

Bulgaria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Airport Fees and Charges: Revenue generated from landing fees, passenger fees, parking fees, and ground handling charges. State fees for Plovdiv Airport are reportedly set at half the rate of other Bulgarian airports, making it attractive to airlines.
2. Business Lounge: Premium business lounge service with 10 seats, priced at 65.00 EUR per use, including soft and alcoholic beverages, Wi-Fi, TV, and telephone. Requires 24-hour advance reservation.
3. Parking Services: Public parking with 70 spaces (51 car spots, 19 bus spots) offering short-term and long-term parking at published rates ranging from free (up to 15 min) to 22 EUR per 24 hours.
4. Retail and Advertising Space Rental: B2B rental of retail and advertising spaces within the terminal, with over 100,000 annual passengers as the audience base. Also includes car rental referral commissions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Plovdiv International Airport Company operates a regional commercial airport located in Krumovo, Bulgaria, providing passenger terminal services, ground handling for airlines (including towing, de-icing, refueling, and PRM assistance), air cargo handling, parking, and business lounge services. The airport supports scheduled, charter, and cargo flights, with a 2,500 m x 45 m runway equipped with ILS CAT I and a 7,350 sq m terminal operating since August 2009.

Product overview

Plovdiv International Airport operates as a single regional airport (not a multi-module software platform) offering a unified set of passenger and airline services. The core passenger services include the Business Lounge (premium seating with 10 seats), Orthodox Chapel, Shops/Cafes/Fast Food outlets, Free Wi-Fi, Assistance for Passengers with Reduced Mobility, and Short/Long-Term Parking. The airport also provides B2B services for airlines (Ground Handling, Airport Fees and Discounts) and commercial partners (Rent and Advertising, Public Tenders, Aviation Security Access Passes, Aviation Safety). Ancillary passenger services include Shuttle Bus, Taxi, and Rent-a-Car.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Фонд за развитие на Летище Пловдив - Южната врата на България: A civil association established by municipalities to support the development of regular air routes and tourism at Plovdiv Airport. Founded in 2010 by three municipalities, expanded to 12 municipalities and 3 legal entities by 2023.

Products and services

• Passenger Terminal Services Passenger terminal services provided through a 7,350 sq m terminal with capacity of 600 passengers per hour peak, supporting boarding, arrivals, and connecting flights for scheduled and charter operations.
• Ground Handling Services Comprehensive ground handling for airlines including aircraft towing, de-icing, refueling, equipment and vehicle maintenance, and assistance for passengers with reduced mobility (PRM).
• Air Cargo Handling Cargo handling services for airline and freight customers, utilizing the airport's cargo handling facility for loading, unloading, and processing of air freight.
• Parking Services On-airport parking for passengers, visitors, and staff using the Plovdiv International Airport terminal.
• Business Lounge Premium business lounge for passengers seeking additional comfort and amenities while traveling through Plovdiv Airport.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Фонд за развитие на Летище Пловдив 'Южната врата на България' (Fund for Development of Plovdiv Airport)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Established in 2010 as a non-governmental organization (Сдружение) initiated by three municipalities, growing to 12 municipalities and 3 legal entities (Pamporovo AD, Grand Hotel Plovdiv, Fund Phoenix) by 2023. The fund subsidizes regular air routes from/to Plovdiv Airport, negotiates directly with airlines or runs tenders for desired routes, conducts international marketing campaigns promoting the region's culture, history, and tourism, and supports regional transport infrastructure development. It played a key role in securing Ryanair's first permanent route in 2010 and Wizz Air's entry in 2021.
• RyanaircoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRyanair signed the airport's first-ever permanent year-round flight contract in 2010. Since then, Ryanair has continuously operated at Plovdiv Airport without interruption, establishing it as a reliable hub. Ryanair launched its first Plovdiv route (London) in 2010 and expanded to include Milano Malpensa and Birmingham by 2025. The airline sells tickets directly to passengers, distributing the airport's services to European travelers.
• Wizz AircoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWizz Air launched permanent year-round routes from Plovdiv Airport in 2021, following Ryanair's established track record of continuous operations at the airport. Wizz Air operates flights to London Luton and Bratislava (3x weekly from November 2025), selling tickets directly to passengers and driving inbound tourism to South-Central Bulgaria.
• Pamporovo ADminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPamporovo AD is the ski resort operator managing services at the Pamporovo winter resort (50 km of ski runs, 8 lift facilities, ski schools). Located 80 km from Plovdiv Airport, the resort is a key driver of winter tourist traffic through the airport. Pamporovo AD is a member of the Fund for Development of Plovdiv Airport.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Gesellschaft für Flughafen und Service mbH (Bodensee Airport): Small German regional airport with similar scale (~100-200k passengers) and LCC-dominated route mix. Comparable as a peer for small European regional airport economics, catchment-driven demand, and route development challenges.
• Burgas Airport: Bulgaria's second-tier coastal gateway, also a regional passenger airport operating scheduled and seasonal charter traffic with similar passenger scale (~1-2M annual passengers). Comparable as a peer regional Bulgarian airport competing for LCC capacity.
• Varna Airport: Another Bulgarian regional airport serving the Black Sea coast with a similar mix of year-round scheduled LCC service and seasonal charter flights. Directly comparable in scale, airline mix (Ryanair, Wizz Air), and tourist catchment dynamics.
• Paphos International Airport: Cyprus's secondary regional airport serving a similar tourism-driven catchment with LCC and charter operators. Comparable in scale (~1-2M passengers), Mediterranean tourism seasonality, and LCC anchor mix.
• Pula Airport: Croatian regional airport serving Istria with a comparable mix of LCC year-round service and seasonal charter traffic. Comparable in scale, Adriatic/Balkan regional tourism dynamics, and LCC anchor dependency.

Broad incumbents

• Sofia Airport: Bulgaria's primary international hub and the country's largest airport. A broader incumbent that competes with Plovdiv for airline capacity, long-haul connectivity, and inbound tourism mind-share, but operates at vastly greater scale with full network carrier service.
• Fraport AG: Global airport operator running Frankfurt and a portfolio of regional Greek and other European airports. Comparable as a peer in regional airport management, route development, and aeronautical/non-aeronautical revenue management.
• TAV Airports Holding: Global airport operator that operates multiple regional airports (including Antalya, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen, and several Balkan facilities). Comparable as a peer in regional airport operations, commercial monetization, and ground handling service lines.
• Aena SME: World's largest airport operator by passenger numbers, managing 46+ airports across Spain and internationally. Comparable as a peer in regional airport operations, fee structures, and commercial revenue development.

Others

• Wizz Air Holdings: One of Plovdiv's two anchor scheduled carriers and a key customer/partner, not a competing airport. Comparable as a strategic counterpart whose capacity decisions materially affect Plovdiv's route economics and growth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Plovdiv_Airport
• Facebookfacebook.com/PlovdivAirport
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plovdiv-international-airport-company

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Plovdiv International Airport Company