SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) -- Four companies have submitted bids for a 35-year concession to run Bulgaria's Black sea airports in Varna and Burgas, the Transport Ministry said Tuesday.
Five companies were shortlisted in February to bid for the concession, but only four of them submitted final offers by Monday's deadline, the ministry said in a statement.
The four bidders include a team led by Germany's Hochtief Airport GmbH and Bulgaria's Albena AD; a French consortium of Vinci Airports and Vinci Concessions; a consortium of Germany's Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide and Bulgaria's BM Star Ltd.; as well as Denmark's Copenhagen Airports A/S.
The bidder offering the highest annual concession fee and the most attractive investment plan will win the concession for the two airports, which are the main arrival gates to this Balkan country during the summer tourism season.
In addition to annual fees, the winning bidder will have to pay an initial charge of euro3 million (US$3.96 million) within a month after signing his concession agreement.
The Transport Ministry has to choose the winner by April 24.
