Buta Airways launches Baku-Sofia direct flight

Azerbaijan's low-cost air carrier Buta Airways launched direct flight Baku-Sofia-Baku.

Baku-Sofia flights of Buta Airways will serve as a basis for the development of tourism, business and relations between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria, Director of Buta Airways Jamil Manizade said at a press conference dedicated to the first such flight in Sofia.

Jamil Manizade expressed gratitude to the colleagues at the Sofia airport, Bulgaria’s Civil Aviation Administration, representatives of the ground handling company who helped to implement this project as soon as possible.

“Civil aviation and today’s event made the capitals of Azerbaijan and Bulgaria closer. We are very pleased that Buta Airways served as the bridge between the two countries that united, and in the future will serve as an excellent basis for the development of tourism, business and relations between the two states,” he said.

Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Nargiz Gurbanova noted that Buta Airways is the first low-cost non-EU company to fly to Bulgaria.

“I am convinced that this line will make Azerbaijan and Bulgaria even closer and will strengthen the position of our countries as effective connecting centers for travel,” she said.

Addressing the press conference, Bulgarian Minister of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications Ivaylo Moskovski noted that Azerbaijan and Bulgaria will be able to implement a number of important tourism projects through the launch of a direct flight.

“In the end, we achieved the goal that was set in 2015. This result was achieved due to the efforts and will of both sides - the Bulgarian government, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov with the active participation of the President of Bulgaria, as well as the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev,” Moskovski stressed.

He noted that due to the direct airline, countries can count on developing contacts between business circles.

An agreement on opening of direct flights between Baku and Sophia was reached during negotiations of Presidents of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Bulgaria Rumen Radev.

The minimum fare on route Baku-Sophia, as well as in other routes of airline, will be 29 euros (one way). The flights will be carried out once a week on Tuesdays.