SolitAir launches EU ops with Bulgaria 737-800 freighter flight

SolitAir late last month expanded its freighter network to Europe for the first time, launching a 737 charter flight connecting its hub in Dubai with Sofia, Bulgaria. The route, which was first operated by SolitAir’s 2004-vintage 737-800BDSF (34014), flew non-stop from Dubai (DWC) to Sofia (SOF) before continuing to Al Ain (AAN) and DWC. [caption id="attachment_57298234" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Unit 34014 is one of two 737-800BDSFs that SolitAir operates. (Photo/Cargo Facts)[/caption] “This route is a natural next step in SolitAir’s 2026 growth strategy as we begin expanding into Southeast Europe before extending further into the wider European market in the next phase,” Patrick Gonzenbach, chief air operations officer at SolitAir, told Cargo Facts . “Southeast European markets align well with our current operating range from DWC, making them a practical and strategic entry point into Europe,” he said. SolitAir received its ACC3 designation from the Belgium Civil Aviation Authority in March to operate cargo flights into European Union states, a SolitAir representative confirmed to Cargo Facts at the time. The carrier obtained its UAE AOC and dry leased its first 737-800BCF, the 2005-vintage unit 33023, in March 2025. It operates two 737-800BDSFs , two 737-800BCFs and has two 737-800BCFs in ACMI service with ASL Airlines Ireland. SolitAir plans to acquire as many as fourteen additional aircraft by the end of the year, Gonzenbach told Cargo Facts. Bulgarian market SOF does not expect any more flights from SolitAir for now, a representative from the airport told Cargo Facts. More broadly, SOF has no scheduled cargo flights to the Middle East, George Traykov, head of cargo for Swissport Bulgaria, told Cargo Facts . Cargo moving from SOF to the Middle East typically includes machinery, automotive, pharmaceuticals, veterinary, electronics and dairy products, he said. “SolitAir’s flight ex-SOF to AAN was probably one of the few commercial charter flights ex-SOF to the Middle East,” Traykov said. “The good thing is that local Bulgarian industry has found a niche market in the region and this sole charter flight might trigger a larger interest in the future so a regular cargo flight service is to be established. “Considering the latest political situation in the Middle East and the turmoil in the region, whoever had any plans for enlarging its network [to and from] SOF most probably has put all plans on hold until the situation calms down,” Traykov said. Bulgaria is home to two freighter operators: Cargo Air, with eleven 737s, and Compass Air Cargo , with three 747s and four 737s. European expansion The first half of 2026 has seen a number of European airports expand their freighter networks, including: Glasgow (PIK), which in April saw the launch of a 777F route from Hong Kong (HKG) ; Brescia (VBS) and Milan (MXP), which in April saw the launch of a 777F route to and from Ezhou (EHU) ; Hahn (HHN), which in May saw the launch of a 777F route from EHU ; Vienna (VIE), which also in May saw the relaunch of a 777F route to and from Doha (DOH) ; Budapest (BUD), which in June saw the launch of a 767-300F route to and from Jiaxing (JNH) ; Prague (PRG), which also in June saw the launch of an A330P2F route to and from Urumqi (URC) ; and London Stansted (STN), which this month saw the launch of a 777F route to and from Shanghai (PVG) . Cargo Facts Symposium 2026, the premier event for the freighter aircraft and air cargo industries, will take place in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 21-23. Find out more and register by Sept. 4 to take advantage of early-bird pricing.

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