Sofia airport serviced a total of 297,873 passengers in July, up by 17 % compared to the corresponding period of 2007, when passenger traffic at the airport stood at 254,468 passengers.

The airport handled a total of 9,336 passengers on July 29, which turned out to be last month's busiest day.

The Sofia airport registered an increase of 32% in the number of international charter flights. The number of passengers on such flights handled by the airport rose by nearly 45% compared to the corresponding period of 2007.

Foreign companies accounted for 88% of the international charter flights to and from the airport.

London was the most preferred destination from the Sofia airport with a record-high 41,000 passengers in July, up 50% year on year. The Sofia-Vienna destination ranked second with 25,300 passengers in July, which represents a 15-percent year on year increase. A total of 20,800 passengers traveled to Frankfurt last month.

The passenger traffic on domestic destinations went up by 45% in July 2008, compared to July 2007.

The cargo shipments handled at the Sofia airport in July rose by 8% to 1,703 tonnes.

Photo: Sofia airport