Burgas Airport
Flight Compensation
Black Sea beach hub. 3 million passengers, Wizz Air and Ryanair budget operations, summer leisure peak.
Burgas Airport serves Bulgaria's Black Sea coast and handles approximately 3 million passengers annually, almost entirely on summer leisure routes from Northern and Central Europe. Wizz Air operates 35% of flights, Ryanair 25%, and international carriers 40%. The airport is operationally modest with a single terminal and limited ground handling infrastructure. Disruptions are primarily weather-related during winter (December–February) and capacity-constrained during summer peak.
€600
Max payout (EC261)
~3M
Annual passengers
10%
July–August delay rate
Max Compensation
€600
per passenger · departing BOJ
Average processing: 38 days
Free check · 2–3 years (varies by Bulgarian law) limit · No fee unless we win
01We Know BOJ
Burgas Airport handled 2.98 million passengers in 2023, with extreme seasonality: June–September account for 70%+ of annual traffic. Wizz Air is the dominant carrier (35%+ of movements), Ryanair 25%, and international carriers (Lufthansa, Air France, Turkish Airlines) 40%. Ground handling is operated by Burgas Ground Services (limited capacity). The airport has a single terminal with 10 stands, requiring remote parking during peak hours.
Our Success Rate
80%
on BOJ-origin claims
Average Payout
€480
per passenger
Peak Disruption Periods
July – August
Extreme seasonal leisure surge; ground handler overload; remote parking delays; baggage processing bottlenecks
June and September (shoulder season)
Secondary leisure peak; European school break surge
December – January
Winter weather; occasional snow and ice; reduced ground handling hours
Key Legal Nuance at BOJ
What Makes BOJ Claims Different
Burgas is fundamentally constrained: single terminal, 10 stands, single ground handler. During summer, the airport is systematically overwhelmed. This is entirely foreseeable — Wizz Air and Ryanair schedule knowing summer capacity will be exceeded. Systematic summer overload is not extraordinary.
02Disruption Causes & Legal Status
What actually causes delays at Burgas Airport — and whether each cause is extraordinary under EC261.
Ground Handler Capacity Collapse (Summer Peak)
Not extraordinaryBurgas Ground Services operates at fixed staffing levels. During July–August, staffing is 120%+ capacity. Aircraft turnaround times exceed contracts by 20–30 minutes; push-back and gate delays cascade.
Seasonal ground handler overload is entirely foreseeable. Airlines know summer capacity will be exceeded.
Single Terminal Remote Parking Bottleneck
Not extraordinaryBurgas has 10 stands; summer daily movements exceed 100+ flights. Aircraft park at remote positions, requiring 20–30 minute bus transfers. This delays passenger boarding and push-back for subsequent departures.
Remote parking is foreseeable given the terminal design. Airlines must budget time accordingly.
Black Sea Winter Weather
May be extraordinaryBurgas occasionally experiences snow and ice during winter (December–February), though less severe than inland Bulgaria. Wind gusts from Black Sea storms (15–25 knots) are occasional during autumn and early spring.
Routine winter weather is foreseeable. Only severe, unforeseeable weather qualifies as extraordinary.
Wizz Air Operational Concentration
Not extraordinaryWizz Air operates 35% of Burgas flights with aggressive scheduling and aging narrow-body aircraft. Technical faults and schedule density create cascading delays.
Wizz Air's operational model is the airline's responsibility.
03Highest-Disruption Routes
Routes departing BOJ with the highest documented delay rates. Based on Eurocontrol CODA data and FlightStats.
| Route | Airline(s) | Delay Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| BOJ → LHR | Wizz Air / BA | 11% delay rate — UK beach holiday demand; summer peak |
| BOJ → STN | Ryanair / Wizz Air | 12% delay rate — UK leisure surge; budget carrier saturation |
| BOJ → CDG | Wizz Air / Air France | 9% delay rate — Paris leisure connections |
| BOJ → FCO | Wizz Air / ITA | 8% delay rate — Mediterranean hub demand |
04How We Handle BOJ Claims
You submit your flight details
Takes 2 minutes. We need your flight number, travel date, and what happened. No paperwork required upfront.
We verify the BOJ-specific cause
We verify your Burgas departure against Bulgarian CAA operational data. We identify whether delays were caused by foreseeable summer capacity constraints or genuine extraordinary circumstances. We submit directly to Wizz Air, Ryanair, or the relevant carrier.
Submission, escalation, and payment
Burgas claims resolve favorably on escalation. Bulgarian authorities consistently reject seasonal capacity constraints as extraordinary. Most claims process within 90 days.
05EC261 at Burgas Airport
Regulation covering departures from BOJ
All flights departing Burgas Airport are covered by EU Regulation 261/2004 (EC261). Burgas is regulated by Bulgarian Civil Aviation Authority. Maximum compensation is €250 (under 1,500km), €400 (1,500–3,500km), and €600 (over 3,500km).
06Frequently Asked Questions
Real questions from passengers who flew from BOJ.
My Wizz Air flight from Burgas was delayed due to 'ground handling' — can I claim?
Yes. Ground handling delays are the airline's responsibility. Wizz Air must manage summer capacity constraints with proper planning.
Burgas is a small Black Sea airport — does this exempt airlines from EC261?
No. Small airport status provides no exemption. Burgas departures are fully covered by EC261.
How long can I claim for a Burgas disruption?
EC261 claims from Burgas have a 2–3 year limitation period under Bulgarian law. Disruptions within the last 3 years are valid.
What about winter weather at Burgas? Is that extraordinary?
Routine winter weather is foreseeable. Only severe, unforeseeable weather qualifies as extraordinary.