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SolitAir has launched its first cargo flight to Sofia (Bulgaria), establishing the first connection to the European Union. This new route is made possible by the ACC3 certification (Air Cargo and Mail Carrier from a Third Country), granted by the Belgian Civil Aviation Authority.
The connection between Dubai World Central (DWC) and Vasil Levski Sofia Airport (SOF) provides direct access to Southeast Europe and links SolitAir’s existing network, which spans the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, with the EU internal market for the first time.
Hamdi Osman, founder and CEO of SolitAir, emphasized the significance of this new connection:
“Sofia is more than just a new point on the map – it is the first European connection in a network that we have built city by city across some of the world’s most economically significant yet underserved trade routes.”
Sofia occupies a strategic position at the intersection of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe and has established road and rail connections to the broader EU internal market. The city has developed into a regional logistics and manufacturing hub, with growing demand for time-sensitive air freight solutions in areas such as e-commerce, automotive components, pharmaceuticals, and perishables. These sectors align with SolitAir’s existing freight capabilities. The new route enables European shippers, integrators, and e-commerce companies to directly access SolitAir’s expanded network, which also includes the Indian subcontinent, the STAN countries, and China.
The introduction of this connection follows the receipt of ACC3 status, which allows SolitAir to transport cargo and mail into the European Union and the European Economic Area while complying with EU air security requirements. Combined with the existing air operator certificate from the UAE GCAA and the EASA approval for third-country operators, this certification completes the regulatory requirements for operating scheduled cargo flights in EU airspace.
The opening of the route to Sofia represents a structural expansion of SolitAir’s network. Since its operational launch in October 2024, the airline has expanded its offering to 56 routes in more than 34 countries, including a network of 17 cities in Africa operated from a hub in Nairobi. The addition of a European destination signals the next phase of growth, as the certifications and density of the network increasingly connect markets beyond the initial presence in the Global South.
SolitAir operates a fleet of seven Boeing 737-800 BCF freighters, each with a payload capacity of 20 tons. These aircraft are designed for reliability, range, and versatility to transport hazardous materials, pharmaceuticals, perishables, as well as valuable and oversized cargo. The airline plans to expand its fleet to 20 aircraft operating from its 20,440 m² cargo center at Dubai World Central (DWC), Al Maktoum International Airport.
