Private jet to Bulgaria

Private flights to Bulgaria follow two seasons and one constant. In winter ski groups land at Sofia or Plovdiv and drive to Bansko, Borovets or Pamporovo; in summer the traffic moves east to Varna and Burgas on the Black Sea. Sofia itself draws business travel all year. From Munich a Citation CJ3 reaches Varna in 2:24 h, and from London the capital is 3:21 h away.

The four airports used by business jets all have runways of 2,500 m or more, and Sofia, Varna and Burgas have VIP areas with their own entrance, so passengers never cross the public halls. Sofia and Varna require a slot and a handling agent for every flight, and the coastal aprons fill with holiday charters from June to September. As a broker, we compare aircraft from operators across Europe and book the slot, the stand and the car together with the flight.

Tell us the resort, hotel or meeting place, the dates and the number of passengers and skis or golf bags, and we will reply with the airport, aircraft and price.

Mountains, coast and capital: reasons to fly privately

How long the flight takes

Times in a Citation CJ3 from the price tables below, including taxi, climb and descent:

The coast lies about 350 km east of Sofia, so Varna and Burgas take 15-25 minutes longer from Western Europe than the capital. Every European route in the tables is flown non-stop by a light jet. Within the country, Sofia - Varna takes about an hour in a jet, against several hours by road across the country.

Private jet prices to Bulgaria

All prices are for the whole aircraft, one way, with an aircraft available near the departure airport. Handling, the slot, VIP area fees and passenger taxes are added in the quote. The flight time refers to the first aircraft in the row.

From the European hubs to Sofia, the coast and Plovdiv

A Citation CJ3 costs EUR 16,000 from London to Sofia and EUR 17,500 to Burgas. Vienna - Burgas at EUR 11,500 and Milan - Sofia at EUR 12,000 are the shortest hub routes. For a ski group with a lot of luggage, a Citation XLS+ from Frankfurt to Sofia costs EUR 17,000, and a Challenger 350 from Geneva to Varna EUR 24,000.

Within Bulgaria and from the neighbours

Sofia - Burgas costs EUR 7,000 in a PC-12 and Sofia - Varna EUR 7,500. Bulgaria is in the EU, so an EU operator may fly from the capital to the coast; a UK or other non-EU operator may not carry passengers between two Bulgarian airports. Bucharest - Varna at EUR 6,500 is the cheapest leg in the tables. Belgrade and Istanbul are outside Schengen, so these routes include a passport check at both ends.

From the Gulf and the Eastern Mediterranean

Price depends on the flight time, where the nearest free aircraft is based, the season and how long the aircraft must wait. In July and August a stand on the coast can be scarce, and the quote may show two one-way flights instead of a week of parking. Bulgarian airport, VIP and handling charges and winter de-icing are listed in the quote; the departure country may add its own tax, such as the French, Italian or Austrian passenger taxes or UK Air Passenger Duty.

Business jet price per flight hour

Heavy Jets from EUR 8,300 / hour

Light Jets from EUR 3,200 / hour

Ultra Long Range Jets from EUR 12,000 / hour

Super Midsize Jets from EUR 6,300 / hour

Very Light Jets from EUR 2,500 / hour

Long Range Jets from EUR 9,800 / hour

Midsize Jets from EUR 4,500 / hour

Turboprops from EUR 2,000 / hour

Three typical trips

Cost per passenger

The aircraft is chartered as a whole, so the share per person falls with every seat taken:

Price calculator

Type the departure, the Bulgarian airport, the date and the number of passengers, and the calculator sends an estimate by e-mail within minutes.

Bulgarian airports and VIP areas

Business jets use four airports with full customs: Sofia in the west, Plovdiv in the centre and Varna and Burgas on the coast, both run by Fraport Twin Star. The table shows where to land for the main destinations:

Gorna Oryahovitsa, about 12 km from the old capital Veliko Tarnovo, has no scheduled flights, so customs, fuel and handling are arranged for each arrival. Across the borders, Thessaloniki, Bucharest and Belgrade are about an hour from Sofia and serve as alternates when fog closes the capital.

Choosing the aircraft

A ski group of more than four with full kit is better off in one of the midsize jets, because skis and boot bags fill a light jet hold before the seats are full. For Varna and Burgas in August, tell us how long you stay, so we can check the stand before confirming the price.

Need a stand on the coast in August or a Bansko transfer in heavy snow? Leave your number and a consultant will call you.

Bulgaria month by month

Demand follows the snow in winter and the sea in summer, while Sofia stays busy with business travel the whole year. For a city trip or golf, April, May, September and October are the easiest months: mild weather, free stands and aircraft at short notice. Empty Legs are most frequent at the end of August and in September, when jets leave the coast, and at the end of ski weekends, when aircraft that brought groups to Sofia fly home empty.

For February ski weeks and summer weekends on the coast, book two to three weeks ahead at least. Outside those periods a trip can usually be arranged within a few days.

From the airport to the slopes and the beaches

Empty Legs to and from Bulgaria

Few aircraft stay on the coast for a week in summer, and ski charters to Sofia often fly home the day they arrive. Those empty sectors are sold at a reduced price. Typical directions:

The original booking fixes the date and time, so Empty Legs suit flexible plans. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights with the direction and a date range, and we will send matching offers.

Travelling with a dog or cat

On a private jet the dog or cat sits in the cabin beside you, never in the hold. The operator approves the animal in advance and needs its species, breed and weight, because not every aircraft takes a large dog. Bulgaria applies the EU rules, with no quarantine and no blood test:

• Microchip to ISO standard, fitted before the rabies vaccination or at the same appointment.
• Rabies vaccination given at 12 weeks of age or older, at least 21 days before travel for a first vaccination.
• EU pet passport; pets from Great Britain travel with an animal health certificate issued no more than ten days before entry.
• Up to five dogs, cats or ferrets per person on a non-commercial trip.
• No tapeworm treatment is needed to enter Bulgaria.

Flying home to the UK, Ireland, Malta, Finland or Norway, dogs need tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before arrival, and the UK admits pets only on approved routes and through approved handlers. Hotels on the coast and in the ski resorts have different rules for dogs, so check yours before booking.

Entry rules, cabotage and taxes

Before you fly

• Valid passport or ID card for every passenger; a passport when flying from the UK or on to Serbia, North Macedonia or Turkey.
• Names, dates of birth and document numbers, sent no later than the day before.
• The exact resort or hotel, so we can choose between Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Burgas.
• Number of skis, boot bags, golf bags and suitcases.
• How long you stay on the coast in summer, so we can check the stand.
• For a dog or cat: the documents, and the hotel's rules on pets.
• Company name and VAT number for the invoice.

Booking step by step

1. Send the destination, dates, passengers and luggage: a chalet in Bansko, a hotel at Golden Sands or a meeting in central Sofia.
2. We choose the airport, request the slot and the stand at Sofia, Varna or Burgas, and check the approval if the operator is from outside the EU.
3. You receive 2-4 aircraft options with operator, model, cabin photos and the price for the whole aircraft, with parking or a second positioning flight as separate lines.
4. You sign the contract with the operator and pay; we confirm the handler, the VIP area and a car suited to the road, 4x4 for the mountains in winter.
5. You pass through the VIP area and the car takes you to the slopes, the beach or the office.

Frequently asked questions about flights to Bulgaria

• • What does a private jet to Bulgaria cost?

  • From the European hubs a Citation CJ3 starts at EUR 11,500 one way, Vienna - Burgas, and costs EUR 16,000 from London to Sofia. A PC-12 from Bucharest to Varna costs EUR 6,500. Handling, slot and taxes are added in the quote.

• • Which airport for Bansko?

  • Sofia, about 160 km and two hours by car in good conditions. There is no jet airport at the resort, and in heavy snow the drive can take longer.

• • Varna or Burgas?

  • Varna for Golden Sands, Albena, Balchik and the golf courses; Burgas for Sunny Beach, Nessebar and Sozopol. The two airports serve different halves of the coast, so the hotel decides.

• • Can the jet fly us from Sofia to the coast?

  • Yes, an EU operator may fly domestic legs. Sofia - Varna takes about an hour in a light jet at EUR 8,500, or 1:15 h in a PC-12 at EUR 7,500.

• • Is there a VIP terminal?

  • Sofia has a VIP area with its own entrance in the western wing of Terminal 1. Varna has one in Terminal 2 and Burgas in Terminal 1, and at both a car takes passengers to the aircraft.

• • How long is the flight from London?

  • 3:21 h to Sofia and 3:45 h to Burgas in a Citation CJ3, non-stop. Bulgaria is two hours ahead of London.

• • Can the aircraft stay on the coast for a week?

  • Outside the summer peak, usually yes. In July and August stands are scarce, so the jet often flies home and returns for the pick-up.

• • Do we need passports?

  • Not for the border from other Schengen countries, but the operator needs a valid passport or ID card. From the UK passports are checked on arrival, with no visa needed for up to 90 days in any 180.

• • Can our dog come along?

  • Yes, in the cabin, with a microchip, rabies vaccination and pet passport (a health certificate for pets from Britain); no tapeworm treatment is needed for Bulgaria.

• • When are Empty Legs most likely?

  • At the end of August and in September from Varna and Burgas, and on ski weekends from Sofia. Send the direction and dates to empty-legs@jets.flights.

• • What currency is used?

  • The euro. The charter, hotels, cars and restaurants are all paid in euros.