The government of Bulgaria has finally decided to award a 35-year concession on Sofia Airport. 

According to sources, the Transport Minister Ivaylo Moskovski stated that the winner of the concession is expected to provide with an upfront payment that would be used to repay debts of Bulgarian State Railways company (BDZ). The amount could reach €300 million (US$336 million) while BDZ's outstanding debt totalled about €235 million (US$263 million).

In June 2015 be reported that Bulgaria had announced plans to launch a tender process for the Sofia airport concession. 

Sofia Airport is Bulgaria's main airport. It is located 5 km east from the center of Sofia. In 2014, the airport handled 3,815,158 passengers, an 8.9% increase compared to 3,504,326 handled in 2013. Bulgaria also uses Sofia Airport for the Vrazhdebna Air Force Base.

Details for the selection of the concessionaire of the international airport have not yet been released, but, according to sources, they will become clear before the end of this month. Those details include the concession fee, an investment programme and a breakdown of investment by years.

The deadline to submit the bids is the end of September.