European Air Charter (Bulgarian airline)
| Industry | Airline |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Bulgarian Air Charter |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | Aviation Service Group |
| Fate | Rebranded from Bulgarian Air Charter in May 2021 |
| Headquarters | Sofia , Bulgaria |
Area served | Europe, Middle East, Africa |
| Products | Charter airline services, wet-lease and ACMI solutions |
| Owner | Aviation Service Group (implied) |
Number of employees | 330 |
| Parent | Aviation Service Group |
European Air Charter (), previously known as Bulgarian Air Charter, is a charter airline based in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Bulgarian Air Charter
Established in 2000 under the name Bulgarian Air Charter, the airline commenced its flights on 14 December 2000 as a fully owned branch of the Aviation Service Group. It caters to multiple tour operators, operating mainly to destinations including Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Israel, and Poland.
Since its foundation, the carrier has transported more than 3.5 million passengers and employs approximately 330 personnel. It operates an internal maintenance division that services McDonnell Douglas MD-80 and Airbus A320 family aircraft, handling airframe repairs, engine work, landing gear maintenance, and component overhauls.
The airline began with a fleet of five Tupolev Tu-154 planes, which were retired by 2004 and succeeded by seven MD-80 aircraft. The fleet grew to 12 MD-80s by 2011. In September 2015, Bulgarian Air Charter expanded its fleet by adding its first Airbus A320-200 to improve operational efficiency.
European Air Charter
In May 2021, the company underwent a rebranding from Bulgarian Air Charter to European Air Charter. By October 2023, it had withdrawn its final McDonnell Douglas MD-82, marking the end of its operation as the last European airline to fly this model.
Destinations
European Air Charter offers wet-lease and ACMI solutions to a variety of airlines and tour operators throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Current fleet
As of December 2024, the airline's fleet consists of 10 Airbus A320-200 aircraft, each configured to accommodate 180 passengers.
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | 10 | — | 180 | |
| Total | 10 | — |
Former fleet
Previously operated aircraft included Tupolev Tu-154 and McDonnell Douglas MD-82 models, with the latter retired in 2023.