Bulgaria Air

Bulgaria Air
България Ер
IATA ICAO Callsign
FB LZB FLYING BULGARIA
Founded November 2002
Commenced operations 4 December 2002
Hubs Sofia Airport
Focus cities
Frequent-flyer program FLY MORE
Subsidiaries Bul Air[1]
Fleet size 10
Destinations 26
Parent company Balkan Hemus Group EAD
Headquarters Sofia, Bulgaria
Key people
  • Yanko Georgiev (CEO)
  • Hristo Todorov (CEO)
Revenue Decrease €147.6 million (2016)[2]
Net income Decrease -€3.6 million (2016)[3]
Website air.bg

Bulgaria Air (Bulgarian: България Ер) is the flag carrier airline of Bulgaria,[4] with its headquarters at Sofia Airport in Sofia.[5] The company is owned by Chimimport Inc. and is a leader in terms of local market share. The airline operates short and medium haul aircraft to destinations in Europe, Middle East, and Russia, focus cities are Burgas and Varna. In 2016 the company carried 1,246,350 passengers on both scheduled and charter flights, a decrease of 2% compared to 2015. The number of operations decreased 0.5% from 4697 in 2015 to 4675 in 2016.[6]

History

The airline was established in 2002[7] as a successor to the insolvent Balkan Bulgarian Airlines and commenced operations on 4 December that year. By order of the Minister of Transport and Communications it was declared the national flag carrier in November 2002. Bulgaria Air began operations using the name "Balkan Air Tour." The airline was known by that name for just a short period of time. The name "Bulgaria Air" and initial logo were determined by a public competition.[8] Bulgaria Air was privatised in 2006; although it was rumoured that the government wanted to sell the carrier to a major foreign investor, a group of locally owned companies, led by Hemus Air, emerged as the buyer with Italian airline Air One being the only other contender.[9] Hemus Air reportedly paid €6.6m and promised to invest a further €86m over the next five years.[10] Since then all flights and operations of Hemus Air and its subsidiary Viaggio Air are under name and management of the merged company, Bulgaria Air.

On 20 November 2008, Bulgaria Air became a full member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).[11] In mid-2011 Bulgaria Air announced that after a thorough analysis of its destinations it had chosen to purchase seven new Embraer E-190 aircraft. The delivery of the first aircraft was in early 2012, whilst the remaining aircraft were delivered later in 2013. The company planned to lease Airbus A321s from 2016.[12]

Destinations

Bulgaria Air operates 22 routes from Sofia Airport, including two domestic routes to Bourgas and Varna. During the summer season Bulgaria Air operates flights to and from Burgas and Varna airport. New services to Beirut, Palma de Mallorca and Prague were launched in 2012.[4]

Codeshare agreements

Bulgaria Air has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:[13]

Interline agreements

Bulgaria Air has special interline agreements with the following airlines:

Charter flights

Bulgaria Air performing charter flights for over 60 leading tour operators, air transport brokers, airlines and other companies of the aviation and tourist industries. During the summer season the airline operated mainly flights from Burgas and Varna airports to destinations in Russia, Israel, Poland, Germany. Also the company operated charter flights and from Sofia airport to popular holiday destinations in Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia, Italy, Spain.[19]

Fleet

Current fleet

Bulgaria Air Airbus A319-100
Bulgaria Air Airbus A320-200
A Bulgaria Air Embraer 190 at Frankfurt Airport in 2014. The carrier received the first aircraft of the type in March 2012.[20] An agreement for the lease of three of these aircraft had been signed in May 2011.[21]

As of October 2016, the Bulgaria Air fleet consists of the following aircraft:[22]

Bulgaria Air Fleet
Aircraft
 Total Orders Passengers Notes
C Y Total
Airbus A319-100 2 — 8 126 134
8 132 140
Airbus A320-200 3 — 0 180 180
Avro RJ70 1 — 26 0 26 Business jet configuration
Embraer 190 4 — 8 100 108
Total 10 —

Retired fleet

Livery

In November 2002 public contests were held in Bulgaria to determine a name and logo for the new airline. Thousands of people showed their creativity and voiced their opinions. After searching through the submissions, the name and logo were chosen.[11] The design was used for about four years, until 2006, when an improved, more professional design was introduced.[10] After the full fleet integration of Hemus Air and Viaggio Air, a new livery had to be developed once again. In mid-2010, the first Bulgaria Air Airbus A319 was rolled out wearing the finalised colour scheme.

Services

Private business flights

Bulgaria Air Avro RJ70 Business Jet

The company offers service for business and VIP clients with an Avro RJ70 Business Jet. The passenger compartment of the aircraft is equipped with 26 armchairs, couches, dining tables and multiple LCD displays, as well as on-board Wi-Fi.[28]

Frequent Flyer

"Fly More" is the name of the Bulgaria Air Frequent flyer programme. There are three levels of membership:

  • Basic - initial level from which the collection of points starts. The member receives a temporary card with identification code.
  • Silver Standard Card - After the member conducts 5 flight he/she receives a permanent membership card. Silver Card holders may exchange their bonus points for free tickets and additional services.
  • Gold Privilege Card - The level is reached after earning 30,000 points within 18 months of enrollment into the programme. Gold cardholders earn a greater number of points on each flight and enjoy a wider range of benefits.[29]

Central Cooperative Bank is issuing Visa Classic and Visa Gold co-branded Credit Cards with Bulgaria Air.[30] These cards are giving numerous discounts and privileges to their holders.[31]

Catering

In 2010 Bulgaria Air and LSG Sky Chefs created a new airline catering company called Silver Wings. The total investment for Bulgaria Air reaches to $1.3 million. Future investment plans envision a new canteen to serve the airport staff at Sofia Airport.[32][33][34]

Bulgaria Air Media

Bulgaria On Air is a business media brand, created on 9 September 2011. It is owned by Bulgaria Air and M-SAT cable. The media include two magazines; a website; and radio and TV channels.

  • Bulgaria On Air: The Inflight Magazine - Bulgaria Air's inflight magazine. Its first edition was in 2003.[35]
  • Bulgaria On Air: The Business Magazine - In April 2011 the inflight magazine was extended with an edition which is distributed in some hotels and shopping centers.

Subsidiaries

Bul Air is the charter brand of Bulgaria Air. The company was founded in 1954, but after merging with the Bulgarian national carrier TABSO became part of BALKAN –Bulgarian Airlines. In 2015 the company was revived by Bulgaria Air.[36]

Bul Air Fleet[37]
Aircraft
 Total Orders Passengers Notes
C Y Total
Boeing 737-300 2[38] 1[39] 0 148 148
Boeing 737-800 - 1[40] 0 189 189
Total 2 2

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Bul Air Fleet - Airfleets aviation". airfleets.net. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  2. ↑ http://www.capital.bg/biznes/kompanii/2017/08/29/2998987_nai-golemite_transportni_kompanii_gladni_za_shofyori/?
  3. ↑ http://www.capital.bg/biznes/kompanii/2017/08/29/2998987_nai-golemite_transportni_kompanii_gladni_za_shofyori/?
  4. 1 2 "Bulgaria Air strengthens its European network with new E-Jets, but cost reduction is also essential". CAPA Centre for Aviation. 4 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29.  
  5. ↑ "Contacts." Bulgaria Air. Retrieved on 10 May 2010. "Head office 1, Brussels Blvd Sofia Airport Sofia 1540" Address in Bulgarian: "бул. "Брюксел" № 1 Летище София София 1540"
  6. ↑ Development, Studio X Creative / Web Design /. "Медия". air.bg. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  7. ↑ "Bulgaria Air". visegradplus.org. Jagiellonian Club of Poland. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  8. ↑ About Bulgaria Air. Air.bg (23 September 2009). Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  9. ↑ Candidate for Bulgaria Air selected – Business. The Sofia Echo (30 October 2006). Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  10. 1 2 Bulgaria Air Deal Completed – Bulgaria. The Sofia Echo (5 January 2007). Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  11. 1 2 "Bulgaria Air joined successfully [sic] IATA" (Press release). Bulgaria Air. 25 November 2008. Archived from the original on 7 February 2009. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  12. ↑ "България Ер ще лети до Лисабон и Аликанте" [Bulgaria Air Will Fly to Lisbon and Alicante]. www.bloombergtv.bg (in Bulgarian). Bloomberg TV Bulgaria. 11 December 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  13. ↑ Bulgaria Air Partners. Air.bg (2009-09-23). Retrieved on 2010-12-21.
  14. ↑ Development, Studio X Creative / Web Design /. "404". air.bg. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  15. ↑ ""България ер" сключи споразумение за "код шеър" с Air Serbia". Aeropress-bg.com. Retrieved 2015-03-16.
  16. ↑ Liu, Jim (23 November 2017). "Alitalia / Bulgaria Air expands codeshare partnership in W17". Routesonline. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  17. ↑ "Авиокомпания България Ер - News". Air.bg. Retrieved 2015-03-16.
  18. ↑ "Авиокомпания България Ер - Новини". Air.bg. 2014-05-28. Retrieved 2015-03-16.
  19. ↑ Development, Studio X Creative / Web Design /. "404". air.bg. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  20. ↑ "Bulgaria Air receives first Embraer 190". Flightglobal. 22 March 2012. Archived from the original on 2015-05-16.  
  21. ↑ Reals, Kerry (31 May 2011). "Bulgaria Air to lease three E-190s". London: Flightglobal. Archived from the original on 2015-05-16.  
  22. ↑ "Airports in Bulgaria seeing fastest growth for over a decade". Anna.aero. PPS Publications. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  23. ↑ Administrator. "Bulgaria Air to lease two A319 - Tu154.net". tu154.net. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  24. ↑ Bulgaria Air, Перките все още са на мода ATR 42/72, retrieved 18 May 2015
  25. 1 2 3 4 "Bulgaria Air Fleet Details and History". Planespotters. 23 September 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  26. ↑ "Bulgaria Air ends BAe 146-200 operations".
  27. ↑ Bonnassies, Olivier (16 June 2011). "Bulgaria Air to sell seven BAe 146s through Cordner Aviation". London: Flightglobal. Archived from the original on 2015-05-16.  
  28. ↑ Bulgaria Air Business Flights Conditions. Air.bg (2009-09-23). Retrieved on 2010-12-21.
  29. ↑ "Авиокомпания България Ер - Membership levels". Air.bg. Retrieved 2015-03-16.
  30. ↑ ""CCB - BG AIR" credit card | Central Cooperative Bank". Ccbank.bg. Retrieved 2015-03-16.
  31. ↑ "Авиокомпания България Ер - Co-branded credit card". Air.bg. Retrieved 2015-03-16.
  32. ↑ "Какъв приятел? - Крейг Джонсън - EMG". Emg.rs. 2013-06-07. Retrieved 2015-03-16.
  33. ↑ "Hellenic Business Council in Bulgaria - Home page". Hbcbg.com. Retrieved 2015-03-16.
  34. ↑ "Авиокомпания България Ер - Новини". Air.bg. 2015-02-24. Retrieved 2015-03-16.
  35. ↑ "Авиокомпания България Ер - Списанието". Air.bg. Retrieved 2015-03-16.
  36. ↑ "Company". bulair.bg. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  37. ↑ "Fleet". bulair.bg. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  38. ↑ "Bul Air Fleet - Airfleets aviation". airfleets.net. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  39. ↑ http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b737-29072.htm
  40. ↑ "Fleet". BUL AIR. Retrieved 2017-07-21.

Media related to Bulgaria Air at Wikimedia Commons

  • Official website
  • "Bulgaria Air News". Bulgaria Air.
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