Black Sea Summer 2027: New Flights to Burgas and Varna, German Recovery and TUI Plans

Black Sea summer 2027 is already taking shape in airline schedules and ministry announcements, and the picture is more concrete than the usual season promises. Bulgaria's Tourism Ministry announced new German routes to Burgas and Varna on 28 August 2026, the minister said on 5 September that about 150,000 new German air seats have been agreed, and on 27 September he outlined a TUI partnership and a tourism-tax plan. This report separates what has been announced from what is confirmed, and says plainly what has no date or number yet.

A note on timing

There is no single breaking story dated within the last 72 hours on this topic. The newest relevant official statements I could verify date from 28 August, 4 September, 5 September and 27 September 2026, and a secondary summary from 7 October. This article therefore gives dated context rather than pretending to be breaking news. The most recent hard data point on the season itself is the NSI August release of 12 October 2026, covered in our companion report.

The new German routes for summer 2027

According to The Sofia Globe's report on the Tourism Ministry's 28 August announcement, the new capacity is as follows.

• Corendon Airlines: Cologne/Bonn to Varna and Burgas, plus Nuremberg and Stuttgart to Varna, flying May to September 2027. The report gives no weekly frequency.
• ICC: Hanover, Düsseldorf and Leipzig/Halle to Varna and Burgas, from 9 May to 3 October 2027. Each of the three airports gets at least two weekly flights to each sea airport, and Hanover to Burgas and Leipzig/Halle to Burgas get three weekly flights.
• The programme adds up to at least 14 flights a week, and the first German flight to Burgas is planned for 9 May.
• Condor: the ministry said talks were active, but no route is confirmed.

Because the two programmes are announced by the ministry rather than published as schedules, treat the dates as plans. Airlines can change timetables, so book flexible fares.

Other airlines adding Burgas capacity

The same report lists non-German additions.

• Jet2.com: extra Burgas flights in May 2027 from Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester and East Midlands, within a season of 11 routes to Burgas. Tickets are on sale.
• Austrian Airlines: a seasonal Vienna to Burgas service from 8 May 2027.
• Bulgaria Air: from 2 to 19 May 2027, up to two daily Sofia to Burgas to Sofia flights with extra afternoon services. Additional May frequencies have been bookable since 25 August 2026.
• Existing carriers, including Eurowings, Discover Airlines, TUIfly, Sundair, Freebird and Wizz Air, continue to serve Bulgaria.

The report says the increase is driven mainly by Burgas hosting Eurovision 2027, and that Fraport Twin Star Airport Management is partnering on new airlines and connectivity at Varna and Burgas. It gives no seat-capacity figures.

Germany: what was lost and what is planned

The German market is the thread running through the minister's statements. In a bTV interview reported by BTA on 5 September, Ilin Dimitrov said May and June were weaker mainly because part of the German market was absent. About 200,000 German air seats were lost after problems between two major market players, though the shortfall was later offset.

For next season he said about 150,000 new air seats for the German market had been agreed, with more expected. He said German arrivals could rise by 25 to 30% compared with this year, which would bring tourist numbers closer to 2019 levels. He also noted that charter flights are for a minimum of seven days.

Those are projections from the minister, not results. A 25 to 30% rise depends on flights actually operating and filling. A secondary summary by Travel And Tour World on 7 October also said the ministry had stated in September that more than 100,000 seats were already contracted for the 2027 summer season; that figure differs from the 150,000 the minister cited on 5 September, and I could not reconcile the two, so treat both as indicative.

TUI, tourism tax and a connectivity fund

On 27 September, World Tourism Day, BTA reported that Dimitrov, speaking from Varna, said TUI had committed to raising its visitors to Bulgaria from 200,000 to 400,000 and had signed a three-year memorandum with the ministry on joint promotion. He said TUI may invest in Bulgaria and that the government hopes several TUI-brand hotels could be developed in coming years. A TUI marathon in Burgas is planned between Eurovision and the active summer season, and UK tourists could come with TUI in 2028 if cooperation works in 2027.

On funding, he said legislation is planned so that half of tourism-tax revenue goes to promotion and events related to air connectivity. The report gives no bill number or timeline. This extends a connectivity and promotion fund announced on 4 September in Nessebar, which he said would "completely change the way the season operates."

About 135,000 people work in Bulgaria's tourism sector, the same report says.

Why the coast cares: the season-extension plan

The ministry's argument is that advertising alone does not work without flights. The 4 September briefing in Nessebar framed the fund as a way to bring tourists outside peak months through more air links, promotion and events. The 27 September statement said decentralised promotion should increase events, festivals and sporting events.

There is a caution here. The 2026 season began weakly, and results are expected to be close to last year's, according to the minister. The NSI figures show arrivals slightly down and revenue up through August. New capacity for 2027 is a bet that demand follows seats; it is not yet a guarantee.

What this means for travellers

If you plan to fly into Burgas in May 2027, you may find more choices from Germany, the UK and Austria, but also tighter hotel availability around Eurovision. The sources do not give contest dates, so confirm them with the organiser and check accommodation early.

If you prefer shoulder-season travel, the announced programmes run into October for ICC (to 3 October) and to September for Corendon. Those are the months when hotel prices are usually lower, although I did not find 2027 price data and would not promise savings.

Always check flight schedules directly with the airline. A ministry announcement is not a ticket.

What this means for hosts around Ravda

Hosts near Burgas Airport should note that May 2027 looks like a high-demand window, with Eurovision, a Bulgaria Air frequency increase and new routes all clustering that month. The sources do not forecast occupancy, so use them as a signal to open calendars and prepare listings rather than as a prediction.

Ravda's position matters here. Burgas Airport is the gateway the sources name for nearby Nessebar and Sozopol, and hosts who can explain transfers clearly will win bookings from first-time visitors.

Reserve and plan with RavdaBG

Whether you are choosing a base for May 2027 or planning a later trip, look at current listings on RavdaBG.com. Browse apartments, hotels and local services in Ravda, Nessebar and Sunny Beach, compare options, and contact hosts directly. Visit RavdaBG.com to see what is available.