The Bulgarian Transport Minister Petar Mutafchiev and the Executive Director of Sofia Airport Plamen Stanchev, greeted the 3 millionth passenger for 2008 of the Airport’s Terminal 2.

The lucky traveler’s name is Yavor Poptochev. Poptochev is from Sofia and had arrived on a “Bulgaria Air” flight from Heathrow in London.

Mutafchiev and Stanchev presented the passenger with a Sofia airport commemorative coin, free use of the airport’s business class facilities for one year and a bottle of Champaign with “Sofia Airport – three million passenger 2008” engraved on it.

Poptochev is a Bulgarian football player in London, returning home to play for a local team.

The Airport Director said that in the last five years, passengers using Sofia airport have been increasing by 20% per year.

For the January-November 2008 period the number of flights at Sofia Airport has increased by 14%, compared to the same period of 2007.

On December 15, the Organising Committee of Grand Prix Bulgaria sent their official letter to Bernie Ecclestone – president of Formula 1 Management and Formula! Administration for approval of the project to build a Formula 1 race track in Bulgaria.

According to the letter, the track near the Bulgarian Northern town of Dolna Mitropolya, currently in construction stage for Moto Grand Prix, could be used for Formula 1 races.