Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her assessment is of the potential merits of a direct summer air corridor between Manchester Airport (MAN) and Sofia, Bulgaria (SOF).

My officials hold regular discussions with airlines, airports and international partners to facilitate global connectivity. However, what routes are operated, and the flights on those routes, are a commercial decision made freely by airlines not the Government. As such, the Department has not undertaken any assessment on the potential merits of a direct summer air corridor between Manchester Airport and Sofia, Bulgaria.

The framework for services between the UK and Bulgaria is within the Air Transport chapter of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). The TCA amongst other things, places no restrictions on the number of direct services allowed between Bulgaria and Manchester airport. Ultimately, it is for individual airlines to determine whether to take advantage of the rights and routes available to them.