Veselin Peykov, CEO of Sofia Airport, has said that the management of the company will start designing a new terminal at the beginning of 2013.

In a Friday interview for the morning broadcast of the Bulgaria on Air TV station, he specified that the project was very much dependent on the development of the airport and the future concession contract.

Peykov added that it was still unclear whether Sofia Airport would get a third terminal or have a new terminal built in the place of the existing Terminal 1.

He explained that the investment program of the airport provided for the construction of two new taxiing runways and new business ramps, the overall cost of the project estimated at around BGN 30 M.

Peykov also noted that the strategy for the development of Sofia Airport included doubling the shopping area and attracting famous brands to the site.

"I expect that we shall pass the threshold of 3.5 million passengers this year. In the period January – end-May, around 1.4 million passengers were transported. The figure would have been even better if the airport in Varna had not been closed for repair works," the CEO of Sofia Airport stated.

He further informed that postal and cargo shipments had also increased by 5% on an annual basis.

"I hope that this result will improve, we have planned for 6%" the CEO of Sofia Airport said.

Later on Friday, Sofia Airport's Terminal 2 will host a radio controlled airplane demonstration to mark the 100th anniversary of Bulgarian aviation, the 75th anniversary of Sofia Airport and the 65th anniversary of the first civil flight.