Burgas is beginning to expand its air connectivity months before welcoming one of Europe’s biggest music events. UK-based airline Jet2 has announced additional flights to the Bulgarian Black Sea city in May 2027, when thousands of international fans are expected to arrive for Eurovision.
The airline will add extra services on several of its existing routes from the United Kingdom. Additional flights are planned from Birmingham, East Midlands, Glasgow and Manchester, with the expanded schedule timed around the Eurovision semi-finals and Grand Final.
Direct connections from 11 UK airports
Jet2’s expanded schedule will provide direct connections between Burgas and a total of 11 airports across the United Kingdom.
In addition to the increased number of flights from Birmingham, East Midlands, Glasgow and Manchester, the airline will also operate services from Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, London Stansted, Bristol, Newcastle and London Gatwick.
This makes the UK one of the best-connected international markets for Burgas during Eurovision week. Several routes will operate multiple times a week, giving visitors greater flexibility to plan either a short trip around the Grand Final or a longer stay covering the entire Eurovision week.
The additional capacity could also provide an early boost for the tourism industry along Bulgaria’s southern Black Sea coast. Eurovision will take place shortly before the traditional start of the main summer season, creating an opportunity for international visitors to combine the event with a few days by the sea.
Eurovision will bring thousands of visitors to Burgas
The 71st Eurovision Song Contest will be held at Arena Burgas. The first semi-final is scheduled for 11 May, followed by the second semi-final on 13 May and the Grand Final on 15 May 2027.
Bulgaria earned the right to host the competition following DARA’s historic victory with “Bangaranga” in Vienna in 2026. It will be the first time Bulgaria has hosted the Eurovision Song Contest.
A much wider programme of events is expected alongside the three televised shows. Eurovision Village, EuroClub and other cultural and entertainment events are set to attract visitors to different parts of the city.
As a result, demand for transport will not be concentrated solely around the night of the Grand Final. Contestants, national delegations, journalists, production crews and fans will begin arriving in Burgas well before Eurovision week officially gets underway.
Burgas expands its connections with other European cities
The increase in flights from the UK is only one part of the preparations. Burgas Airport is preparing new flights for Eurovision 2027 as efforts continue to improve the city’s international connectivity during the event.
One particularly important connection will be with the Austrian capital. Austrian Airlines is set to begin its seasonal service earlier than usual in 2027, with the first direct Vienna–Burgas flight scheduled for 8 May.
The route is significant not only for passengers travelling from Austria. Vienna Airport is a major European aviation hub, offering convenient onward connections from numerous countries and making Burgas accessible with a single transfer.
For this reason, additional flights from Vienna to Burgas could have a considerably wider impact on the city’s accessibility than a typical seasonal leisure route.
More flights between Sofia and Burgas
Additional capacity is also planned on the domestic route between Sofia and Burgas. Bulgaria Air plans to operate up to two flights a day between the two cities from 2 to 19 May 2027.
On selected days, afternoon services will be added alongside the regular evening flights. Additional morning departures from Burgas to Sofia are also planned after the Grand Final to help accommodate the expected return traffic.
This will make Sofia Airport another important gateway for international Eurovision visitors. Travellers from countries without direct flights to Burgas will be able to fly into the Bulgarian capital before continuing to the Black Sea coast by air.
Eurovision could provide a strong start to the 2027 summer season
The expansion of flight schedules months ahead of the contest demonstrates the scale of international interest expected in Burgas.
For the city, Eurovision represents far more than three nights of live television. It will place Burgas at the centre of European media attention immediately before the beginning of the summer tourism season and could generate significant additional demand for hotels, restaurants, transport services and tourism experiences across the wider region.
The final transport picture for May 2027 is still taking shape, and further announcements regarding air connectivity and visitor transport are expected in the coming months.
However, with additional Jet2 flights from the United Kingdom already confirmed, the earlier launch of the Vienna service and increased capacity between Sofia and Burgas, preparations for the expected influx of international visitors are already clearly underway.
