New airports in Bulgaria need to be located at least 100 km from the Sofia, Varna, Bourgas and Plovdiv airports, Transport Minister Petar Moutafchiev said.

The decision will stop low-cost carriers interested in Bulgaria from taking away the traffic from the major airports, Novinar newspaper reported.

In several days the concession procedures for the Gorna Oriahovitsa and Turgovishte airports will be launched, Moutafchiev said. The procedure for the Stara Zagora and the Elhovo airports will start soon.

The Rousse airport will be developed through a public-private partnership, the Transport Ministry announced.

The Kroumovo airport, near Plovdiv, will be used both for passenger and military flights. The Transport Ministry is negotiating its status with the Defence Ministry. A new terminal would likely be constructed, Moutafchiev said.

A decision on the concession of the Varna and Bourgas airports will be given the latest in May or the procedure would be launched anew. All companies that participated need to confirm once again their offers.

The Supreme Administrative Court rejected a Cabinet decision for the selection of Copenhagen Airports as the tender winner. Copenhagen Airports does not correspond to the concession criteria, a court decision reads.