News

A new terminal at Sofia airport will not be open in time for the Christmas rush.

The news is a blow to tourism officials in Bulgaria after it appeared the new building would almost certainly be opened in time.

However, the country's transport ministry has announced that work is currently running seven days behind schedule, reports the Sofia News Agency.

It is unclear where the problems lie, but officials say the new terminal should be fully operational by the end of January.

Despite the setback, the Directorate for National Construction Control has given the passengers' terminal the all-clear and the runway system has been given the green light.

The first flight is expected to land at the new site on 27 December, before all major carriers are eventually moved from the old terminal.

Sofia Airport, which was built in the 1930s, has become too small to deal with the number of flights and size of modern day aircraft.

Financing for the project was secured in 1997 after plans, which include a runway which crosses the river Iskar on a bridge, were presented to the European Investment Bank.

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