Qatar Airways is ending its operations in Bulgaria, bringing an end to more than 15 years of direct flights between Doha and Sofia in a move that the country’s tourism industry says will significantly weaken Bulgaria’s air links with Asia, Africa, and Australia.
According to Dimitrina Goranova, Vice Chair of the Association of Bulgarian Tour Operators and Travel Agents (ABTTA), the airline has already shut down its Sofia office, with employees laid off as part of the withdrawal. “This is a heavy blow for Bulgaria, for our connectivity with all of Asia, Africa and Australia, as well as for the tourism business,” she said.
Qatar Airways had suspended flights following the outbreak of the military conflict in the Middle East earlier this year before gradually restoring services beginning in April. Flights to Sofia remained available in the carrier’s reservation system through the end of 2026 and even into 2027, but were later removed without explanation. Industry representatives said the airline subsequently informed them that it was closing its Bulgarian office and discontinuing flights to the country. The Sofia office declined to comment, referring inquiries to the company’s headquarters in Doha.
Representatives of Bulgaria’s tourism sector believe the decision is linked to the airline’s broader post-conflict restructuring, a shortage of available aircraft, and relatively weak passenger demand from Asian markets.
Petar Stoyanov, Chairman of ABTTA, warned that the loss of Qatar Airways is already being felt across the travel industry. “The lack of direct flights by Qatar Airways to Sofia is already having a serious impact on the tourism market, and Bulgaria urgently needs to work to attract new airlines that will provide better connectivity with Asia, Africa and Australia,” he said.
With Qatar Airways no longer serving Sofia, Turkish Airlines has effectively become the primary gateway for travelers heading toward Asia, Africa, and Australia via Istanbul. Flydubai remains another option through Dubai, although industry representatives say demand has weakened because of continuing uncertainty in the Middle East. According to Stoyanov, reduced competition has already pushed ticket prices higher, driven both by limited alternatives and increased fuel costs. While travelers can still connect through major airports in Central and Western Europe, those itineraries generally require longer travel times and are considered less attractive.
ABTTA argues that Bulgaria should now actively pursue new long-haul airline partnerships. The association believes Etihad Airways should be a priority, pointing out that the Abu Dhabi-based carrier continues to expand across the region and already serves nearby capitals including Belgrade, Zagreb, Athens, Istanbul, and soon Bucharest. “Such routes happen at a political level. The state needs to be active if Bulgaria wants to become part of the Etihad network,” Stoyanov said.
The association also says national airlines from China and Vietnam have previously expressed interest in launching flights to Bulgaria, although such projects would require stronger political cooperation between governments. For that reason, ABTTA plans to send formal letters to Bulgaria’s Transport and Tourism Ministries urging them to begin negotiations with potential carriers. Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines have also been identified as possible partners capable of improving Bulgaria’s connectivity with major Asian hubs.
Goranova stressed that reliable international air links are essential not only for tourism but also for business travel. “For a destination like Bulgaria, it is extremely important to have good connectivity. The lack of sufficient air connections hinders both inbound and outbound tourism, but also business travel,” she said, adding that tour operators are already encountering growing difficulties when organizing group trips to Asia, Africa, and Australia because convenient connecting options have become increasingly limited.
The airline’s withdrawal also contrasts with recent diplomatic efforts between Bulgaria and Qatar. Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov recently met with Qatari Ambassador Fahad Al-Mushiri to discuss expanding tourism cooperation, including business-to-business meetings between tour operators, participation in tourism exhibitions, promotional visits by influencers and travel creators, and renewing the bilateral tourism cooperation memorandum.
During the meeting, Ambassador Al-Mushiri described Bulgaria as an attractive and diverse destination while emphasizing the need for more tourism information in Arabic, noting that travelers from Qatar frequently take short leisure trips abroad. However, the official discussions made no reference to Qatar Airways’ decision to end its Bulgarian operations, despite its expected impact on travel between the two countries.
The tourism industry maintains that attracting new international carriers has become an urgent priority if Bulgaria hopes to preserve its competitiveness as a destination and restore direct access to key long-haul markets after the departure of one of its most important global airlines.