Sofia Airport, in Bulgaria, plans to create a new third terminal as part of a major project costing about £214million to make it into the ‘first 5-star regional airport in Europe’.

The airport is currently working on modernising its Terminal 2 and will build a brand new Terminal 3 set to be completed by 2030.

The new structure will boost the airport’s annual capacity to 20 million passengers and comes following Bulgaria’s recent insertion into the Schengen Zone in March 2024.

Sofia airport’s CEO, Jesús Caballero said: “I have a vision to turn Sofia Airport into a regional hub and the first five-star airport in Europe.”

He added: “We want to be Europe’s best regional airport.

“What we are now noticing, what we are now talking about with airlines, especially with the third countries and non-Europe destination, is increasing appetite to open flights to Sofia, thanks to the Schengen accession.”

The current two terminals welcomed about 7.2 million passengers back in 2023, meaning the expansion will more than double this capability.

Terminal 3 is to cover 65,000 square metres and connect with the current Terminal 2.

New checkpoints will be created to process about 3,250 passengers per hour across a total of 35 gates once the new terminal opens.

Caballero added: “We think we can create something unique here and send a message that Bulgaria has the potential to level up the passenger experience and the standard in the region.”

“We want to achieve a terminal where everything is within a comfortable walking distance.

“In less than five minutes, you can reach every single gate.

“Our design is to centralise the commercial areas in one.”

Currently, airlines like Ryanair and Wizz Air already operate from the airport, and more low-cost carriers are expected to join in the future.

Works are scheduled to begin next year, with an anticipated completion date in 2030.

The airport aims to be entirely carbon-neutral by 2036.