BH Air
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Headquarters | Sofia , Bulgaria |
Area served | Europe, Africa, Asia, Middle East |
| Products | Charter flights |
| Owner | Balkan Holidays Services (partial) |
Number of employees | 250+ (2015) |
| Website | www |
BH Air Ltd. () is an airline based in Bulgaria, with its headquarters located in Sofia. The company is partially owned by Balkan Holidays Services. It specializes in operating charter flights mainly for tour operators across the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and various other European countries. Additionally, BH Air provides services to destinations in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, catering to cultural, sports, and corporate groups. Its principal base of operations is Vasil Levski Sofia Airport, supported by secondary hubs at Burgas Airport, Varna Airport, and Plovdiv International Airport.
History
Established in 2001 and beginning flight operations in January 2002, BH Air initially conducted charter services under contract with the UK tour operator "Balkan Holidays Ltd" (an unrelated company). The airline started with a single Tupolev Tu-154M aircraft and expanded its fleet to four planes within a few months. By 2003, BH Air incorporated its first Airbus A320 into the fleet and subsequently leased an additional three A320s, resulting in a total of eight aircraft—comprising four Tu-154Ms and four A320s. In 2004, the airline served prominent clients such as Balkan Holidays, Kuoni, and TUI, transporting close to 400,000 passengers.
In 2005, BH Air secured a two-year wet lease agreement with Virgin Group to support the launch of Virgin Nigeria. The airline also operated aircraft on behalf of Air Arabia and Pacific Airlines. The Tupolev Tu-154 fleet was phased out by 2006. Drawing on experience gained from working with Virgin Group, BH Air contributed to the establishment of Sri Lanka’s Mihin Lanka in 2007. Furthermore, the company manages private business jet operations featuring Gulfstream G550 and G200 aircraft primarily for First Investment Bank.
In January 2013, BH Air obtained an exemption from the US Department of Transportation permitting flights to New York (JFK) and Chicago (ORD). In July 2014, it expanded its fleet with an Airbus A330-223 to facilitate direct long-haul services from Sofia to the United States as well as high-demand European routes during peak periods. By 2015, BH Air employed over 250 personnel including more than 40 pilots and upwards of 100 cabin crew members.
In March 2015, BH Air entered into a strategic partnership with SkyGreece Airlines to enhance its market position within the Balkans. This collaboration enabled BH Air to operate Athens-New York JFK flights on behalf of SkyGreece starting in June 2015; however, SkyGreece discontinued these routes by September of the same year.
Financially, BH Air reported revenues amounting to €67.9 million in 2017 but experienced a net loss of €9.5 million. The airline continues to focus on serving specialized charter markets supported by strategic alliances that underpin its international operations.
Destinations
Until April 2015, BH Air operated winter season charter flights from the UK to Vasil Levski Sofia Airport and maintains summer seasonal services to Burgas Airport and Varna Airport. In August 2015, it conducted flights from Athens Airport to New York City on behalf of SkyGreece Airlines. Although plans were announced for routes to Chicago, these never materialized. The Bulgarian government selected BH Air for routes to Kuala Lumpur and Kolkata, but these services were not launched.
Current fleet
As of October 2022, the BH Air fleet comprises the following aircraft:
| Aircraft | Quantity | Orders | C | Y | Total Seating Capacity | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | 3 | — | — | 180 | 180 | |
| Total | 3 | — | ||||
Historical fleet
BH Air's past aircraft inventory included the following models:
Additionally, the airline provided private business jet services under the brand BH VIP utilizing a Gulfstream G200.