Plovdiv Airport is positioned 16 km southeast of Plovdiv, within the vicinity of the village of Krumovo, Rodopi Municipality. It connects via Republic Road II-86 (Plovdiv-Asenovgrad) and Republic Road III-8601. The Krumovo military airbase and the Aviation Museum are serviced by Mavrudovo railway station on the Plovdiv-Asenovgrad line. Urban route No. 2 provides access to the airport’s passenger terminal.
A Unique International Hub
Plovdiv Airport stands as the sole international civil airport in Bulgaria’s South Central Region.
Early Beginnings: 1928-1947
The inception of civil aviation in Plovdiv dates back to 1928 with the first test flight from Sofia to Plovdiv, Yambol, and Burgas. Officially inaugurated on August 18, 1932, the airport initially spanned 80 hectares, positioned to the left of the Asenovgrad road. In 1947, temporary civil flights between Sofia and Plovdiv were established, linked to the Plovdiv Fair.
Expansions and Milestones: 1948-1966
In May 1948, Plovdiv Airport opened an aerodrome with the former Fifth Air Regiment building, along with a ticket office. Regular routes from Sofia to Plovdiv, Burgas, and Varna were launched, initially operated by TABSO’s Junkers Ju 52/3m, followed by Li-2 aircraft. The airport serviced up to 25 flights per day during the Plovdiv Fair.
On May 2, 1962, the aerodrome relocated to Graf Ignatievo. By September 13, 1965, a new terminal building was unveiled. This year marked the start of a winter charter program by the Bulgarian airline BALKAN to Berlin, Moscow, Prague, and Vienna with Il-18, Tu-104, and Tu-114 aircraft. In 1966, the apron expanded to meet the winter charter program’s demands.
Growth and Development: 1970s-1980s
Throughout its new location, Plovdiv Airport handled regular domestic flights to Burgas, Varna, Targovishte, Ruse, Gorna Oryahovitsa, and Sofia with Il-14 aircraft. The winter charter program also grew. The airport was frequently recognized as a national leader.
In the 1970s, Aeroflot’s cargo flights flourished, transporting greenhouse produce with Il-18, An-12, and Tu-154 aircraft, moving over 5000 tons in 1972 alone. On April 18, 1978, the airport received its first Il-76, capable of carrying 40 tons of cargo. By 1980, regular domestic flights ceased with the retirement of Il-14 planes, yet winter charters continued to rise.
Modern Era: 1982-2009
On December 18, 1982, the first Tu-134 charter flight from Amsterdam landed, marking a new chapter for Plovdiv Airport, now at its current Krumovo location. The airport built a reception building, a technical block, a power plant, an Air Traffic Control building, and a Control Tower.
In 2007, the airport hit a record with 104,130 passengers, boosted by charters from Air Malta and Balkan Holidays Air to various UK cities. On February 23, 2009, construction began on a new passenger terminal, designed by architect Petko Yovchev, capable of handling 500,000 passengers annually. The terminal included four new aircraft stands, a taxiway, parking, and a wastewater treatment plant.
Recent Developments: 2009-Present
The new terminal opened on July 1, 2009. On December 25, 2009, Russian airline S7 launched the first regular seasonal route between Plovdiv and Moscow Domodedovo Airport. Ryanair began regular flights between Plovdiv and London Stansted on November 2, 2010, and between Plovdiv and Bergamo on May 7, 2011.
However, in October 2011, Ryanair threatened to cease operations due to a contract dispute with the Plovdiv Airport Development Fund. After resolving the issue, the airline suspended the Bergamo route but started flights to Frankfurt Hahn on November 3, 2011. These resumed in 2017 but were later moved to Frankfurt am Main in March 2018.
Winter charters for the 2011/2012 season included routes to Dublin (Bulgaria Air and Europe Airpost), Rostov-on-Don (Donavia), and Belfast (Jet2.com). For three consecutive years, Turkish airline Pegasus operated flights between Plovdiv and Izmir in January and February.
Plovdiv Airport continues to evolve, navigating challenges and capitalizing on opportunities to serve as a vital aviation hub in Bulgaria.
