Varna and Burgas airports: 555,000 passengers in September
Varna and Burgas airports handled about 555,000 passengers in September 2026, up 8.6% year on year, after passing 3 million for 2026, Fraport data show.
Varna and Burgas airports handled about 555,000 passengers in September 2026, 8.6% more than a year earlier, according to Fraport data reported by Bgtourism.bg on 13 October. The two Black Sea airports had already passed 3 million passengers for the year by 1 September. Fraport does not publish a separate September figure for Varna, so only the combined number is available.
How busy were the airports in September 2026?
September traffic at the two airports, run by the concessionaire Fraport Twin Star, reached roughly 555,000 passengers. Across all Fraport airports worldwide, growth in September was 2.7%, Bgtourism.bg reports, so the Bulgarian coast grew about three times faster than the group as a whole.
When did Varna and Burgas pass 3 million passengers?
Fraport Twin Star announced on 1 September 2026 that the two airports had handled more than 3 million passengers since the start of the year. According to the company, quoted by DBR, markets with double-digit growth included Poland, Israel, Hungary, Slovakia, Belgium and France. Combined traffic is still below 2019, before the pandemic.
| Period | Passengers | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025, both airports | about 3.7 million | +11% |
| Q1 2026 (Varna only) | — | +15.8% |
| Jan–Aug 2026, both airports | more than 3 million | — |
| September 2026, both airports | about 555,000 | +8.6% |
Why did Varna grow so fast early in the year?
Burgas Airport was closed for a runway rehabilitation worth more than €60 million and only reopened on 1 May 2026. As a result, the 15.8% growth Fraport reported for the first quarter came entirely from Varna Airport, Chernomore wrote in May. Varna’s director, Dimitar Kostadinov, told BNR in January that the airport handled nearly 1.85 million passengers in 2025 and aims for close to 2 million in 2026, Bgtourism.bg reported.
What it means for Varna
September is now a real season month at the airports, not a wind-down. Growth of 8.6% after the summer peak supports the city’s push to stretch tourism into spring and autumn, a topic on the agenda of the Black Sea Tourism Forum in Varna. It also contrasts with hotels: NSI data show Varna region had fewer overnight stays in August 2026 than a year earlier, though revenue rose. Whether Varna alone reaches 2 million will only be clear when Fraport publishes full-year figures.
Flying in? The Varna Airport guide explains bus 409, taxis and parking.
Figures as of 2026-10, checked against Fraport, Bgtourism.bg, DBR, Chernomore and Destination Bulgaria.
Sources
- Bgtourism.bg – Varna and Burgas airports up 8.6% in September (13 Oct 2026)
- Fraport Bulgaria – Fraport Twin Star marks 3 million passengers in 2026 (1 Sep 2026)
- DBR – Over 3 million passengers at Varna and Burgas airports (2 Sep 2026)
- Chernomore – Varna Airport up 15.8% in the first quarter of 2026 (5 May 2026)
- Destination Bulgaria – Burgas and Varna airports in 2025 (16 Jan 2026)
- Bgtourism.bg – Varna Airport expects 2 million passengers in 2026 (28 Jan 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How many passengers did Varna Airport handle in September 2026?
Fraport, which runs the airport, has not published a separate September figure for Varna. Varna and Burgas together handled about 555,000 passengers, 8.6% more than in September 2025.
How many passengers have used Varna and Burgas airports in 2026?
More than 3 million combined since the start of the year, according to Fraport Twin Star's announcement of 1 September 2026.
Why did only Varna count in the first quarter?
Burgas Airport was closed for runway rehabilitation and resumed flights on 1 May 2026, so the 15.8% first-quarter growth came entirely from Varna.
Is the 2026 total expected to beat 2025?
Yes. The airports expect 2026 to exceed 2025, when they handled about 3.7 million passengers, though traffic is still below 2019 levels.
