Varna International Airport is the airport of Varna, the sea capital of Bulgaria. The IATA airport code of Varna Airport is VAR, its ICAO airport code is LBWN.

History

The history of the airport dates back to 1916 when two sheds for the first hydro-port in Bulgaria were built in the Peinerdzhik area (present-day Chaika residential area). Irregular mail-plane service from Sofia to Varna was held between 1919 and 1920 and it was until 1947 that a permanent airline between the two cities was established. What had grown into Tihina Airport was situated west of the present-day Asparukhovo Bridge and was indeed quite primitive for the demands of a modern city. Thus in 1946 a decision was made and a new airport was constructed several kilometres west of the city, near the village of Aksakovo , with local people enthusiastically working on the site together with the constructors. Construction and improvement continued throughout the years, with a new terminal erected in 1972 and a new runaway in 1974.

Technical data

• Distance from the city centre: 7.5 km
• Altitude: 70 m.
• Runway length: 2500 m.
• Runway width: 55 m.
• Aprons for all types of aircraft: 32
• Geographic coordinates:

Future plans and expansion

Currently, Varna International Airport is subject to heavy traffic following the booming tourist industry in Bulgaria and is in need of major investments to modernize, expand and handle projected passenger traffic. In April, 2005 the Bulgarian Government awarded Copenhagen Airports A/S a 35 year long concession on both Varna and Burgas airports in return of investments exceeding €500 million.

External links

• Varna Airport Homepage
• History of Varna Airport