Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has announced that it is planning to participate in the tender for the concession to operate Sofia Airport in Bulgaria, which is valued at EUR3.5 billion (US$4.06 billion).

The tender was launched by Bulgaria's Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications in July, with applications and offers due on 22 October 2018. However, last month the Ministry announced that the deadline was to be extended.

MAG operates three airports in the UK - Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands. The combined annual passenger traffic of the three airports totals nearly 60 million.

UPDATE: MAG has officially announced its intention to bid for the concession in consortium with Beijing Construction Engineering Group (BCEG).