In one week after Bulgaria's accession to Schengen, statistics show that passengers save between 20 and 40 minutes per flight. This was stated by Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Anna Natova during an event organized by the Bulgarian Aviation Industry Association (BAIA). The occasion was the welcoming of a symbolic flight in honour of our accession to Schengen, which took place from 4 to 7 April in several Schengen countries on the initiative of BAIA.
‘The possibility to shorten the waiting time and inspections is a serious reason to increase interest in Bulgaria as a business and tourist destination’, Deputy Minister Natova said. She welcomed the ‘Bulgarian ambassadors of Schengen’ and pointed out that the project had fulfilled its purpose, namely to attract the attention of Europeans to our accession to the common space. Deputy Minister Natova pointed out that the implementation of this flight aims to show that Bulgaria is now part of the Schengen air Schengen and is becoming more easily accessible to all countries in the union.
Anna Natova clarified that the abolition of controls at the air and sea borders between Bulgaria and the other Schengen countries is only a preparatory step for the abolition of controls at the land borders. In her words, this will be a serious stimulus for the Bulgarian economy.
The Director General of DG Civil Aviation Administration Anelia Marinova said that this symbolic flight embodies the efforts that have been made for Bulgaria's entry into Schengen.
The event was also attended by Minister for Agriculture and Food Kiril Vatev, Minister for Innovation and Growth Milena Stoycheva, representatives of the private sector and others.
