Direct flights from other European cities to Sofia are on the increase and the boom in budget airlines such as wizz air, easy jet and Ryan Air means that not only has Sofia's popularity as a short break destination  increased noticeably, but also more and more local residents are taking advantage of exploring the world.
Via nearby Istanbul (Turkish Airlines) many destinations around the world are within easy reach. Same goes for travelling with Qatar airways via Doha or of course Lufthansa via Frankfurt / Munich or Austrian via Vienna. The national carrier is Bulgaria air and although the fleet is getting old and the service has never been great - there are a couple of exceptions in their favour: You still get food on their flights and passengers with small children automatically get priority assistance.
The airport serves as the home base for BH Air, Bulgaria Air, and Bulgarian Air Charter and as a base for both Ryanair and Wizz Air
Cringe factor: You might be surprised to notice that Bulgarians tend to clap enthusiastically as soon as the plane has touched down - but not yet stopped!