Fraport Twin Star: ‘Building awareness and traffic for Bulgaria’s premium Black Sea coastline’

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Ulrich Heppe, CEO Fraport Twin Star Airport Management AD: “Further developing the low-cost carrier segment at both locations is another strategy that we are pursuing – especially during the off-season, so that we can create a healthy mix of carriers, ranging from major legacy to low-cost carriers serving the needs of all passengers.”

2016 was a memorable year for Fraport Twin Star Airport Management AD, in which it marked 10 years of the successful airport concession at Burgas and Varna airports. Fraport Twin Star Airport Management AD CEO Ulrich Heppe outlines the main successes of the airports to Marta Dimitrova.

Known as the Bulgarian Riviera, the country’s Black Sea Coast is home to white and golden sandy beaches spread across the nearly 400km Black Sea coastline. With its historical sea towns founded in the seventh century BC, as well as more modern resorts, offering water sports, nightlife and secluded beaches, Bulgaria’s coastline attracts more and more visitors every year.

Among the coastal resorts, two cities stand tall – Varna and Burgas – the pillars of Bulgarian Black Sea coast tourism.

Varna and Burgas international airports are the main hubs serving the region and are often used as a link to Bulgaria’s coast. In 2006, Fraport Twin Star Airport Management AD signed a concessionary contract to run the airports for 35 years.

Speaking to Airport Business, Ulrich Heppe, CEO Fraport Twin Star Airport Management AD, enthuses: “2016 was an incredible year because of the regular programme of celebrations hosted by our Burgas and Varna twin gateways. Our official anniversary on 10 November was an amazing event joined by VIPs, stakeholders and staff – the climax of Fraport Twin Star Airport Management AD’s first decade of this successful airport concession on Bulgaria’s beautiful Black Sea coast. It was also a memorable year in which we welcomed record numbers of passengers travelling to and from Varna and Burgas airports.”

Under the slogan ‘10 Years of Excellence’, the airports held events to showcase Bulgarian culture, ranging from traditional new year celebrations; dancing and music entertainment; and marking the national Day of the Bulgarian Alphabet and Culture on 24 May; to demonstrations of yoga, in conjunction with International Yoga Day. “The popularity of this innovative customer programme grew from month to month, even attracting requests from our stakeholders asking what would be coming next,” Heppe adds.

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Under the slogan ‘10 Years of Excellence’, Varna and Burgas airports held events to showcase Bulgarian culture throughout 2016, starting in January with ladies dressed in folklore costumes who served traditional Bulgarian New Year treats – pastry baked with fortune wishes inside. It was also a memorable year in which the airports achieved 22% growth in passenger traffic.

One of the main highlights for the airports in 2016 was welcoming their 35-millionth passenger since the start of the concession. What is more, the airports achieved 22% growth in passenger traffic.

“Last year we could finally reap the fruits of our initiatives to transform the Twin Star airports into attractive gateways, while further developing strong ties with the Bulgarian tourism industry and our international travel partners,” says Heppe. “Together we are building tourism awareness and traffic for Bulgaria’s premier Black Sea region.”

Depending on flight volumes and operational periods, Fraport Twin Star actively participates in joint marketing programmes with the airlines to popularise new routes.

“Our goal is to provide more opportunities, so that more people can discover our fascinating cities and explore the stunning Black Sea coast,” Heppe adds.

Recently, a number of airlines announced year-round flights to Varna from Dortmund, Munich, Eindhoven, Larnaka, Milan, Tel Aviv and Brussels. Fraport Twin Star also launched a new aviation marketing strategy called ‘Twin Star to Five’, aiming to boost off-season traffic by engaging other major stakeholders such as hoteliers, tour operators, municipalities, and airlines and airports. “Further developing the low-cost carrier segment at both locations is another strategy that we are pursuing – especially during the off-season, so that we can create a healthy mix of carriers, ranging from major legacy to low-cost carriers serving the needs of all passengers,” Heppe explains.

‘Perfection, growth and care’

Heppe explains that during its first decade of operation, Fraport Twin Star has been focusing on “perfection, growth and care”, investing €170 million to modernise and expand facilities. Some of the most visible projects include the new passenger terminals inaugurated at Varna and Burgas in 2013; improvements to the airports’ computer and communication technology; apron expansion for aircraft positioning; construction of new technical and service buildings with the best available equipment and technologies, as well as staff training and a new career development centre.

Additionally, Burgas Airport recently completed a vital rehabilitation of taxiways A and H, which are the longest and busiest taxiways, covering around 50,000sqm. The €6 million investment also included upgrades to the lighting cabling, airfield lighting system and approach lights, their management and control technology, and runway drainage systems. An identical project will roll out at Varna Airport this year.

The expansion and modernisation of the airports is continuing apace with €10 million to be invested this year and a further €50 million over the next five years.

Fraport Twin Star Management will be making further important investments at its Black Sea gateways over the next 25 years – for example, movement zones, passenger terminals, cargo facilities, access roads, technical infrastructure, safety and security systems, technical and IT equipment, etc. Burgas Airport will receive a major runway rehabilitation by 2024; an extension to Terminal 2 will start this year and be complete by the 2019 summer season, then followed by a second extension in 2024. Projects are also underway at both airports for the runway approach lights and airfield lighting. The T3 hangar at Varna Airport will receive structural improvements in the future, too.

“This gives you an idea of our ambitious plan for the future,” Heppe explains. “Our team is inspired to lead this change and bring it into reality. Thanks to the new passenger terminals at both airports, we have already experienced positive effects from enhanced service quality, new facilities, and strong customer satisfaction and brand recognition.”

At the core of Fraport Twin Star’s vision is placing the airports in the traveller’s heart, therefore it is consistently striving to provide top-quality services for its passengers.

Fraport Twin Star is embracing the traditional hospitality of Bulgarian culture in order to create a lively atmosphere in the airports’ facilities. “The new vision, based on hospitality, modernity, innovative technologies and motivated staff, is part of the new face of the sunniest airports in the Balkans. Our goal is to establish Fraport Twin Star as a leading airport operator in Eastern Europe. Furthermore, the Twin Star team should strive to continue placing both Varna and Burgas airports in the traveller’s heart,” Heppe concludes.

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Fraport Twin Star recently completed a vital rehabilitation of taxiways A and H at Burgas Airport, which are the longest and busiest taxiways, covering around 50,000sqm. The €6 million investment also included upgrades to the lighting cabling, airfield lighting system and approach lights, their management and control technology, and runway drainage systems. An identical project will roll out at Varna Airport this year.

 


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