Competition watchdog investigates food and beverage prices at Sofia Airport

The Commission on Protection of Competition has launched a preliminary investigation into a possible abuse of a dominant market position in the food and beverage market at Vasil Levski Airport Sofia, the regulator said. The move follows numerous complaints about prices at retail outlets operating at the airport.

According to the Commission, a number of public reports indicate substantially higher prices for coffee, bottled water, soft drinks and food products at Sofia Airport compared with other European airports.

According to the regulator’s preliminary findings, a limited number of operators manage a substantial share of retail outlets across both terminals in partnership with the airport concessionaire. The Commission on Protection of Competition will carry out an in-depth analysis of market access conditions, the competitive environment in the sector, and possible practices that may restrict competition and result in unjustifiably high prices for consumers.

Edited by Diana Tsankova

Translated by Kostadin Atanasov