On 09.06.2026, another working meeting was held in connection with the negotiations on the draft of a new Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) in "SOF Connect" AD. The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Federation of Transport Trade Unions Eng. Aleksandar Shopov, the lawyer of the FTTU Nikolay Stoyanov, and the chairman of the trade union organization in the company Nikolay Lazov. On behalf of the employer, Ms. Anelia Dimova and Mr. Deha Akmazlale – Chief Financial Officer of the company, took part.

FTTU expressed the opinion that the information provided by the employer, as well as the publicly available economic and financial indicators, outline a significantly more favorable picture of the company's development in recent years than the one that could justify limited growth of remunerations and social benefits.

During the discussions, it was pointed out that since the beginning of the concession, passenger traffic at Sofia Airport has grown by over 150% – from 3.36 million passengers in 2021 to over 8.41 million passengers in 2025, with the airport reaching record traffic levels and significantly exceeding its pre-pandemic indicators. At the same time, the average headcount of the company is decreasing, which shows that the growing volume of activity is being carried out with a smaller number of workers and employees.

FTTU also drew attention to the fact that the company is already achieving sustainable positive financial results. In 2024, the reported profit was EUR 10.2 million, and in 2025 it reached EUR 19.9 million, as the accumulated losses from previous years were overcome and the company reported a positive financial result. According to FTTU, these indicators show that there are no longer objective financial prerequisites for limiting the income policy.

At the same time, it was reported that social costs in the company have decreased by over 50% compared to 2023 – from over BGN 8 million to about BGN 4 million in 2025. According to FTTU, this shows that workers and employees have already borne a significant part of the burden of the cost optimization measures taken.

According to FTTU, despite the salary increases made in recent years, the real growth of purchasing power remains limited due to accumulated inflation. Alongside this, the growth rates of salaries in the company are gradually lagging behind the dynamics of the average salary for the country. An additional factor is also the significant increase in the minimum wage in recent years, which leads to a narrowing of the differences between skilled and unskilled labor and creates prerequisites for demotivation and difficulties in attracting and retaining qualified personnel.

FTTU emphasizes the need for the new Collective Labour Agreement to provide higher parameters of basic wages, as well as an annual indexation mechanism that takes into account inflation processes, labor market developments, and the company's financial results. The trade union side considers that there are sufficient economic and social arguments for improving both the salaries and the social package of workers and employees.

The next negotiation meeting is scheduled for June 17, 2026, when the detailed discussion of the financial parameters and the texts on which differences still exist between the parties will continue.