The concessionaire of Sofia Airport „SOF Connect“ is not willing to start paying its concession fees early from the beginning of 2026. A similar proposal was made to the owner of „Vasil Levski“ Airport by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Grozdan Karadjov.
„Keep in mind that despite the change in passenger flow and the presence of a jump over the result before the pandemic caused by the coronavirus, its impact is present and we are suffering losses. Nearly 600 million leva were paid in advance and we have made significant investments. We have also invested 72 million EUR, instead of the planned 43 million EUR, which is 29 million EUR more, planned for the first 5 years of the contract“, said Jesus Caballero, CEO of "SOF Connect".
„We are holding talks. Maybe by the end of the year we will announce a decision because we have not yet recovered from the coronavirus and we are now negotiating. Negotiations mean that there will have to be compensation. If we start paying earlier than 2031, this will affect the economic balance of the concession and there will have to be some compensation. We are currently discussing this“, added Caballero.
„SOF Connect“ received a 10-year deferral not to pay the concession fee due to the coronavirus pandemic in the spring of 2021. Then the annex was signed by the current Prime Minister and then Minister of Transport Rosen Zhelyazkov. He announced that there was an option to start paying the fees on the fifth or the sixth year of the concession.