The privatisation agency has extended the deadline for filing preliminary bids for the national flag carrier Bulgaria Air to August 24, 14.00 local time (13.00 CET), from August 17, 14.00 local time. The deadline extension is explained by requests of two of the three certified candidates. Seven companies have purchased tender documents in the initial phase of the competition but only three of them are about to continue the race: Balkan Hemus Group (representing Bulgaria's second largest air carrier Hemus Air), Air One - Bulgaria (local subsidiary of Italy 's Air One), and Airlines Bulgaria (representing Aegean Airlines of Greece). The deadline for submitting final offers is provisionally scheduled for the end of September but the precise timing will be decided after the privatisation agency reviews all preliminary bids. The state is selling the full stake in Bulgaria Air but will retain a "golden share" with the right to block key decisions. Bulgaria Air reports net sales of around EUR 100mn, 750,000 passengers, and pre-tax earnings of EUR 0.26mn for last year. It has licences for servicing 30 international lines.