BH Air
BH Air is a Bulgarian charter airline serving tour operators, group travel programs, and selected ad hoc and wet-lease operations.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
BH Air Ltd., also known as BH Air-Balkan Holiday Airlines, is a Bulgarian registered charter airline headquartered in Sofia. Its main base is Vasil Levski Sofia Airport, with additional operating bases or seasonal activity associated with Burgas Airport, Varna Airport, and Plovdiv International Airport. The airline primarily provides charter air services for tour operators rather than operating a large traditional scheduled network under its own commercial timetable. The company was founded in late 2001 and began flying in February 2002. Its initial business was built around charter services contracted by the United Kingdom tour operator Balkan Holidays Ltd.; that company is separate from BH Air and should not be confused with Balkan Holidays Services, the Sofia-based enterprise with which BH Air is partly associated. The early operation used a single Tupolev Tu-154M and expanded to four aircraft within a few months, allowing the airline to serve Bulgarian tourist destinations including Sofia, Plovdiv, Burgas, and Varna. BH Air introduced its first Airbus aircraft in 2003. During the following period it leased additional Airbus A320-family aircraft and operated a mixed fleet that, at its peak in the mid-2000s, included four Tupolev Tu-154Ms and four Airbus A320s. In 2004 the airline worked for Balkan Holidays, Kuoni, TUI, and numerous smaller tour operators. It reported carrying approximately 400,000 passengers to and from Bulgaria during that year, reflecting its role in the country's inbound and outbound package-tourism market. The airline broadened its business beyond conventional seasonal charter flying during the 2000s. In 2005 it entered a two-year wet-lease agreement with Virgin Group. BH Air aircraft also operated for Air Arabia and Pacific Airlines. The Virgin-related work contributed to the establishment of Virgin Nigeria, while BH Air later participated in the creation of Sri Lankan carrier Mihin Lanka in 2007. These activities gave the company experience in aircraft provision, operational support, and airline start-up cooperation outside Bulgaria. BH Air retired its Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft in 2006 and subsequently concentrated on Airbus equipment for its passenger operations. It also operated private business aviation services under the BH VIP name, including aircraft used primarily for First Investment Bank. In January 2013, the United States Department of Transportation granted the airline an exemption permitting flights to the United States, specifically New York and Chicago, following an application submitted in 2012. In July 2014, BH Air received its first Airbus A330-200. The wide-body aircraft enabled direct long-haul operations from Sofia to destinations in the United States and could also be deployed on high-demand summer services to the United Kingdom and other European markets. In 2015 the airline reported a workforce of more than 250 people, including over 40 pilots and approximately 100 cabin crew members. BH Air formed a strategic alliance with SkyGreece Airlines in March 2015, intending to strengthen both companies' position in Balkan aviation. Under that arrangement, BH Air operated Athens-New York services on SkyGreece's behalf from June 30, 2015. The route was short-lived: SkyGreece announced a suspension effective September 1, 2015. BH Air also considered Chicago, Kuala Lumpur, and Kolkata operations at different points, although the Chicago service did not begin and the available reference material does not establish that the Asian routes launched. The airline's business remains centered on charter flying for tour operators in European source markets, seasonal service to Bulgarian resort airports, ad hoc group charters, and specialist transport for cultural, sporting, and business events. Its documented operations have also included long-haul and wet-lease assignments. BH Air is therefore positioned as a flexible charter and capacity-provider airline rather than as a mass-market scheduled carrier.
History
BH Air was established in late 2001 as a Bulgarian charter airline and started commercial operations in February 2002. Its initial network connected Bulgarian airports with markets served by the United Kingdom tour operator Balkan Holidays Ltd. The early fleet consisted of a single Tupolev Tu-154M, but the airline expanded to four aircraft within months. This initial growth was closely tied to Bulgaria's package-tourism sector and to demand for flights serving Sofia, Plovdiv, Burgas, and Varna. The company began introducing Airbus aircraft in 2003. It later leased three additional Airbus A320s, creating a fleet that reached eight aircraft, including four Tu-154Ms and four A320s. By 2004, BH Air was flying for Balkan Holidays, Kuoni, TUI, and smaller tour operators. The airline transported around 400,000 passengers to and from Bulgaria that year, according to the cited reference material. Its core model was seasonal charter flying arranged through tour operators rather than a broad independent scheduled network. During the middle of the decade, BH Air developed an international aircraft-services role. In 2005 it signed a two-year wet-lease contract with Virgin Group. The relationship was associated with the creation of Virgin Nigeria, and BH Air aircraft also operated for Air Arabia and Pacific Airlines. In 2006 the company retired its Tupolev aircraft. In 2007 it participated in the creation of Mihin Lanka, extending its experience from charter flying into airline-development cooperation. The company also operated private business flights under the BH VIP name, including Gulfstream aircraft used mainly for First Investment Bank. BH Air pursued additional long-haul opportunities in the 2010s. After applying in November 2012, it received a United States Department of Transportation exemption in January 2013 for flights to New York and Chicago. In July 2014 it took delivery of its first Airbus A330-200. The wide-body aircraft was intended for direct long-haul services from Sofia to United States destinations and could be used for busy summer flights to the United Kingdom and other European destinations. In March 2015, BH Air entered a strategic alliance with SkyGreece Airlines. The partnership aimed to improve the airlines' position in the Balkans. BH Air operated Athens-New York flights for SkyGreece beginning June 30, 2015, but SkyGreece announced that the New York service would be suspended on September 1 of the same year. A Chicago service was planned but did not commence. The airline was also selected by the Bulgarian government for proposed services to Kuala Lumpur and Kolkata, although the available reference does not confirm that these routes operated. BH Air's documented business has remained diversified within the charter sector. It has provided seasonal flights for European tour operators, served Bulgarian coastal and inland airports, undertaken ad hoc charters for cultural, sporting, and business groups, and supplied aircraft or operating capacity to partner airlines. The reference material identifies Sofia as the principal base, with Burgas, Varna, and Plovdiv also connected to the airline's operations. The company is best understood as a flexible Bulgarian charter carrier and aviation-services provider rather than as a conventional scheduled flag carrier.
- 2015
SkyGreece strategic alliance
[1]BH Air forms an alliance with SkyGreece and operates Athens-New York flights on its partner's behalf.
- 2014
First Airbus A330-200 delivered
[1]BH Air receives its first A330-200 for long-haul and high-demand seasonal operations.
- 2013
United States flying exemption
[1]The United States Department of Transportation grants an exemption for flights to New York and Chicago.
- 2007
Participation in Mihin Lanka's creation
[1]The company participates in the development of a new airline in Sri Lanka.
- 2006
Tupolev aircraft are retired
[1]BH Air phases out its Tu-154 aircraft.
- 2005
Virgin Group wet-lease contract
[1]BH Air signs a two-year wet-lease agreement with Virgin Group and broadens its international operating role.
- 2004
Tour-operator network expands
[1]The airline operates for Balkan Holidays, Kuoni, TUI, and smaller tour operators and carries approximately 400,000 passengers to and from Bulgaria.
- 2003
First Airbus aircraft enters service
[1]BH Air introduces its first Airbus aircraft as it expands beyond its initial Tupolev-based operation.
- 2002
Commercial charter operations begin
[1]The airline starts flying in February with a Tupolev Tu-154M on charter routes serving Bulgarian airports under a United Kingdom tour-operator contract.
- 2001
BH Air is founded
[1]BH Air-Balkan Holiday Airlines is established in Bulgaria late in the year.
Products and positioning
A Bulgarian charter and aviation-services operator focused on tour-operator flying, seasonal leisure traffic, group charters, and selective wet-lease or long-haul assignments.
Charter aviation · 2002
Seasonal tour-operator charter flights
BH Air's principal offering is charter capacity arranged for tour operators. The airline has served European source markets, including the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland, with flights to Bulgarian destinations such as Sofia, Burgas, Varna, and Plovdiv. Operations are particularly associated with seasonal leisure travel and package holidays.
Specialist air transport
Ad hoc group charters
The airline provides non-scheduled flights for organized groups traveling for cultural, sporting, and business purposes. These assignments allow BH Air to operate beyond fixed seasonal holiday programs and to tailor aircraft deployment to the requirements of a particular group or event.
Aviation services · 2005
Wet-lease and partner-airline operations
BH Air has supplied aircraft and operating capacity to other airlines, including through its two-year Virgin Group wet-lease agreement and later operations for Air Arabia, Pacific Airlines, and SkyGreece Airlines. These activities place the airline in the capacity-provider segment as well as the direct charter market.
Private aviation
BH VIP
BH VIP was the company's private-business-flight offering. The operation used Gulfstream aircraft and was described as serving primarily First Investment Bank, distinguishing it from BH Air's main leisure-charter business.
Long-haul charter aviation · 2014
Long-haul Airbus A330 charter service
The introduction of an Airbus A330-200 enabled BH Air to undertake direct long-haul charter flights from Sofia to United States destinations. The wide-body aircraft could also be assigned to heavily demanded summer services between Bulgaria and the United Kingdom or other European destinations.
Brand decisions
2015
Strategic alliance with SkyGreece AirlinesStrategyBackground
The partnership was intended to strengthen the airlines' position in the Balkan market and expand transatlantic operating opportunities.
Action taken
BH Air formed an alliance with SkyGreece and operated Athens-New York flights for the partner beginning June 30.
Aftermath
SkyGreece announced that the New York service would be suspended from September 1, about a month after its launch. A planned Chicago service did not start.
2014
Introduction of Airbus A330-200 long-haul capabilityProduct launchBackground
BH Air sought to support direct long-haul charter services from Sofia while retaining flexibility for high-demand European seasonal flying.
Action taken
The company took delivery of its first Airbus A330-200 in July.
Aftermath
The aircraft made United States charter operations possible and could be redeployed to summer routes in Europe.
2006
Retirement of the Tupolev Tu-154 fleetGeneration changeBackground
After expanding into Airbus operations, BH Air decided to remove its Tu-154 aircraft from service.
Action taken
The airline phased out the Tu-154 fleet and continued its transition toward Airbus equipment.
Aftermath
The change reduced the prominence of the airline's original Soviet-built aircraft and supported a more Airbus-oriented operating model.
Sources1 sources
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