Over the years, the activity of business aviation in Southeast Europe has been limited to only a few of the largest airports. The situation is slowly but steadily changing for the better, and the recent accession of Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen area is expected to spur the positive trend, opening new development opportunities for FBOs and ground handling operators across the region.
The business aviation sector in Romania is on an upward trajectory, with increasing interest from both domestic and international players says Alexandra Popa, commercial assistant of Legend Airlines, a Bucharest-based airline.
“Ground support services have seen improvements, particularly in major airports, but consistency and quality across all facilities remain areas for development,” he says.
Despite the improvements, Romania and Southeast Europe as a whole still lack modern airport infrastructure and a skilled workforce.
“To fully realize its potential, there is a pressing need to promote and support local professionals, pilots, engineers, and ground staff. People who can drive the industry forward,” Popa says.
“Investing in training and infrastructure is essential to meet the growing demands of the sector and to position Romania as a competitive player in the wider European aviation market.”
“Airport infrastructure in Romania and Bulgaria has improved in recent years, especially at major hubs. However, regional airports still face numerous challenges, including outdated infrastructure, seasonal demand, and underutilization,” says Venera Vlad, senior banker at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
Over the past decade, EBRD has been involved in modernizing airports in the region, with a focus on better operational efficiency, sustainability, and passenger experience. EBRD has contributed about €125 million (US$146 million) of loans and equity since 2020 for Sofia Airport under a 35-year public-private partnership.
Improvements
The large airport modernization projects in Sofia and Bucharest are expected to be a model that will be replicated at smaller regional airports.
“The ongoing modernization of Sofia Airport is expected to set a benchmark for sustainable and efficient airport operations in the region, inspiring similar public-private partnerships in infrastructure development,” Vlad says.
“Notably, the Bulgarian Government is aiming to potentially build concessions and other airport infrastructure.”
In recent years, the investment focus in Romania has extended beyond Bucharest to key regional airports like Cluj, Iasi, Brasov, Oradea, and Craiova, driven by a mix of EU funds, national programs, and local budgets, says Alina Bilan, partner at ONV LAW, a law firm.
“From the point of view of a legal advisor involved in large-scale public procurement and infrastructure projects, the shift has been significant,” Bilan says.
“We’ve moved from patchwork upgrades to comprehensive, forward-looking infrastructure strategies that incorporate modern procurement practices, environmental compliance, and international integration.”
According to Bilan, access to funding has been a game changer for regional airports. Many of these facilities now benefit from upgraded runways, terminals, and navigation systems – all essential for increasing connectivity and unlocking local economic potential.
However, the challenge remains in ensuring consistent execution capacity at the local level and maintaining a predictable regulatory environment to support long-term infrastructure development.
So far, the infrastructure improvement has made a little difference for Sofia.
“There have been ambitious declarations regarding growth in traffic in Sofia, but so far, these have yet to translate into visible results,” says Michail Dantchev, general manager for Aviation Service, a Sofia-based cargo handler.
Burgas and Varna, airports on the Black Sea coast, are performing well, although both airports remain heavily dependent on seasonal summer travel. Attracting year-round operations, particularly in Burgas, continues to be a significant challenge, Dantchev says.
“Plovdiv, located in the heart of Bulgaria, holds strong potential for both business and leisure travel. However, perhaps due to its proximity to Sofia, it has struggled to attract substantial traffic,” he says.
Despite the challenges, the business aviation sectors in Bulgaria and Romania remain strong.
“Bulgaria and Romania have a lot of industry, especially in automotive manufacturing and electronics, in addition to a significant amount of scientific research,” says Gareth Danker, Euro Jet’s director of sales.
“More and more people are flying to these countries on the low-cost carriers, which are keeping the airports very busy. When private aviation comes into these airports, the work Euro Jet does is essential, as we provide our own team of aviation professionals who meet the aircraft when it arrives and assist the operator and airline throughout their stay,” Danker says.
In terms of business aviation development, Bulgaria and Romania follow the lead of some other European countries, where economic growth has also spurred growth in the aviation sector.
“The development of business aviation traffic in Bulgaria and Romania resembles what we saw in Poland several years ago,” says Michał Wichrowski, CEO of PMA Aviation, a Warsaw-based consultants. “I anticipate strong growth in the coming years.”
According to Wichrowski, the economies of both Romania and Bulgaria are on a steady upward trajectory, which lays the foundation for strong growth in the number of private flights in the coming years. “These factors are likely to stimulate not only air traffic but also the simultaneous development of all related ground support services,” Wichrowski says.
The business aviation sector in Romania has shown resilient growth, particularly as regional economic activity intensifies and the demand for personalized, time-efficient travel continues to rise.
Clients increasingly value premium services, privacy, and direct access to destinations not easily reached through scheduled commercial flights.
“This trend is clearly reflected in the ground support services market, where we have observed a growing demand for comprehensive, top-tier solutions, ranging from fast-track customs procedures to bespoke concierge support,” says Dana Petrea, head of development operations at Tiriac Group, a Bucharest-based FBO.
While still underdeveloped compared to the Western business aviation sector, the market in Romania is gaining traction, particularly concerning Bucharest and regional economic hubs like Cluj, Iasi, and Timisoara, with secondary airports like Arad and Sibiu also positioning themselves to attract private and charter traffic.
“Regulatory predictability, availability of FBO services, and airspace management remain areas for further improvement,” explains Bilan.
“Overall, business aviation in Romania is entering a phase of infrastructure alignment, positioning it as a complementary pillar to the broader civil aviation market,” Bilan says, explaining that Romania offers a compelling value proposition: relatively low operating costs, growing regional business activity, and increasing political will to align infrastructure with economic priorities.
“Business aviation here is no longer an afterthought; it is quietly becoming a strategic layer in Romania’s broader air mobility ecosystem,” Bilan adds.
A turning point
Romania and Bulgaria became full Schengen members on January 1, 2025, creating vast new opportunities for airlines, FBOs and ground handling operators.
“Romania’s full accession to the Schengen Area in January 2025 marks a significant turning point for the country’s aviation sector,” Petrea says. “Enhanced connectivity and the removal of border controls are expected to streamline travel across Europe, leading to a notable increase in both passenger and business aviation traffic.”
This integration into the Schengen zone creates new opportunities for investment in airport infrastructure and ground handling services. For companies like Tiriac Air, this means the potential for increased traffic and greater demand for premium FBO and concierge services.
“It also encourages more international operators to consider Romania as a viable base or destination, reinforcing our role as a regional hub for high-standard business aviation support,” says Petrea.
New entry rules mean that airports in Bulgaria and Romania will handle the same traffic a bit faster.
“If more people can fly in and out of a country without customs and immigration, it will lead to less wait time and more capacity for the airport to handle an increased number of passengers,” says Danker.
“It is always more desirable to go somewhere on vacation where you can avoid long lines and move quickly through airports.”
Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area is a significant milestone that is expected to enhance connectivity and streamline operations.
“This development is likely to attract increased investment into aviation infrastructure, as it simplifies travel and cargo movement across borders.
“The improved regulatory environment can serve as a catalyst for modernizing ground support services and for encouraging partnerships with international carriers,” Popa says.
Schengen accession has been a powerful factor contributing to the improvement of airport infrastructure and business aviation across Europe, and market players in Bulgaria and Romania are right that this could also boost their operations.
“The expansion of the EU and later the Schengen Zone has been a major driver of growth for other countries in the region, and I expect a similar effect for Bulgaria and Romania,” Wichrowski says.
The beginning of the journey
Now a part of the free-travel area, Bulgaria and Romania are expected to gradually catch up with other EU countries in terms of air traffic and infrastructure.
Looking ahead, Romania is well-positioned to become a key logistics and connectivity node in Eastern Europe. This evolution will likely be supported by targeted EU funds, public-private partnerships, and the growing interest of global aviation players seeking to expand their presence in the region.
The positive developments in the coming years are not considered to be guaranteed.
Passenger traffic to Bulgaria and Romania in recent years was somewhat constrained due to both countries’ proximity to the Ukrainian battlefields.
Energy prices are also much higher in southeastern Europe because of the connection to the Ukrainian power grid. This means almost all of the electricity used in Ukraine to plug the gap between supply and demand is produced in Bulgaria and Romania.
When compared to other EU countries, energy prices in Bulgaria and Romania are therefore much higher as a result. Furthermore, the US tariffs promise to hit Southeast Europe hard, adding a layer of uncertainty for investors. “Naturally, there are concerns about a potential economic slowdown due to ongoing geopolitical tensions and trade tariff uncertainties,” says Dantchev.
“However, I remain optimistic about the overall outlook. Assuming other conditions remain stable, Bulgaria is well-positioned for continued growth and this will, in turn, serve as a strong stimulus for the ground support services market,” he says.
It remains to be seen whether the positive shifts in Southeast Europe can lure new international players.
“On one hand, I expect that some foreign ground handling companies will consider entering these markets. However, looking at the example of Poland, such companies may be cautious if the local market is already dominated by strong domestic players.
“In such a case, competition or partnerships may be limited, which could slow the entry of international service providers,” says Wichrowski.
“With the anticipated growth in air traffic and the country’s strategic location, there is a clear opportunity to develop world-class support services that meet international standards,” Popa says.