Bulgaria's international airports in Varna and Bourgas are to be given under concession for a period of 35 years.

In June 2005, the concessions were awarded to Denmark's Copenhagen Airports, which outbid Germany's Fraport and a link-up of France's Vinci Airports and Vinci Concessions. Copenhagen Airports agreed to invest EUR 526 million in the terminals and the concession fee for the whole period will be around EUR 1.2 billion. The Danish operator said it would invest EUR 106 million in the first three years of the concession and the rest later on. Copenhagen Airports also vowed to overhaul the terminal at Bourgas and build a new one in Varna to accommodate an expected increase in annual passenger traffic from 2.3 million passengers in 2004 to 4.0 million over the next three years.
However, in January 2006 Bulgarian Supreme Administrative Court revoked the governmental decision to award the concession to Copenhagen Airports, saying the Danish company lacked the necessary experience in operating airports and has failed to prove its investment track record. In February 2006, Bulgaria's Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) decided to remove from the procedure the Danish Copenhagen Airports.

The Bulgarian Transport Ministry intends to hold parallel negotiations with two candidates for concession on its seaside airports in Varna and Burgas, it was reported on March 15, 2006. The two candidates are the German Fraport and the French Vinci. They will be invited to renew their offers, and will file their proposals following the official decision of Bulgaria's Council of Ministers for continuing the procedure.

The transport ministry decided to change the terms and conditions of the concession by taking out almost 5.0 ha of the land of the Varna Airport from the concession. The land was not mentioned in the initial terms and conditions of the concession, which was one of the reasons for the competitors to appeal the selection of Copenhagen Airports. The construction of temporary passenger terminals before the start of the active tourist season will be included in the terms and conditions of the contract with the new winner in the concession procedure.