ALK Airlines

ALK Airlines is a Bulgarian passenger airline headquartered in Sofia and legally registered as Air Lubo (ALK JSC). Established in May 2016, the carrier entered operation soon after its formation. Its business is centered on charter air transport, with flights arranged for tourism, groups, seasonal demand, and other contracted travel requirements. The airline has also been described as operating some scheduled passenger services, although publicly available information provides limited detail about the extent, continuity, and route structure of that activity. The carrier’s market focus is Bulgaria and the wider European aviation market, while its charter capability is described as worldwide. This means that its operating pattern is likely to be more flexible than that of a conventional network airline: routes can be organized around tour operators, ad hoc contracts, seasonal demand, aircraft availability, and special missions rather than a fixed year-round timetable. Public descriptions identify Bulgaria as the principal point of origin and destination for its charter activity, but do not establish a complete list of airports or commercial partners. ALK Airlines initially planned to acquire Fokker 100 aircraft from the former Dutch Antilles Express. The plan did not result in a fleet composed entirely of those aircraft. One of the acquired Fokker 100s was subsequently operated by ALK Airlines, while another was sold to Iran Aseman Airlines for use as a source of spare parts. The airline later operated additional aircraft types, including McDonnell Douglas MD-82 and MD-83 aircraft. These aircraft formed part of its historical fleet but are no longer identified as current equipment in the cited fleet information. As of August 2025, the reported active fleet consisted of two Boeing 737-300 aircraft. The use of a small fleet is consistent with a charter-oriented model, in which capacity can be concentrated on contracted flying rather than distributed across a large scheduled network. However, reliable public material does not provide detailed information about aircraft registration, cabin configuration, ownership or leasing arrangements, annual passenger numbers, revenue, employee count, or profitability. ALK Airlines’ public profile is therefore that of a relatively small Bulgarian charter operator rather than a major international network carrier. Its distinguishing characteristics are its Sofia base, Bulgarian registration identity, emphasis on charter flying, ability to conduct international operations, and history of using several generations of narrow-body passenger aircraft. The airline experienced a serious turbulence event in June 2019 on a flight from Pristina to Basel, after which several passengers and crew members required medical attention. No broader corporate scandal, major transaction, or leadership history is identified in the available reference material. The reported current fleet indicates that the brand remained operational at least as of August 2025, but more detailed current-status information should be verified against aviation-regulatory and company sources.

ALK Airlines is the trading name of Air Lubo (ALK JSC), a Bulgarian passenger charter airline based in Sofia. The company was established in May 2016 and began operating shortly afterward. Available public descriptions characterize the carrier primarily as a charter operator, while also indicating that it has conducted some scheduled passenger flying. Its charter activity is described as worldwide, with a particular emphasis on flights to and from Bulgaria. The airline’s initial fleet plan involved Fokker 100 aircraft formerly associated with the defunct Dutch Antilles Express. The intended acquisition did not produce a long-term all-Fokker operation. One Fokker 100 was operated by ALK Airlines, while another was sold to Iran Aseman Airlines for spare parts. The carrier subsequently used other narrow-body aircraft, including McDonnell Douglas MD-82 and MD-83 aircraft. These types are identified as part of the historical fleet rather than the current fleet. A significant operational event occurred on 17 June 2019. Boeing 737-300 operating flight VBB-7205 from Pristina to Basel encountered severe turbulence at roughly 32,000 feet. The turbulence caused passengers, service items, and flight attendants to be thrown toward the ceiling of the aircraft. Ten passengers were transported to hospital after landing. The event is documented as an incident associated with the airline, but the available reference material does not identify it as a corporate scandal or provide a finding of wrongdoing. Fleet information dated August 2025 lists two Boeing 737-300 aircraft as current equipment. This relatively small fleet fits a business model based on contracted and seasonal charter flying, where aircraft are deployed according to tour-operator requirements, travel demand, and individual assignments. Publicly available sources do not provide a complete chronology of route launches, scheduled services, ownership changes, financial performance, management appointments, or regulatory status. They also do not establish a detailed list of customers or partner tour operators. ALK Airlines’ documented history is consequently limited but coherent: it was created in Bulgaria in 2016, developed as a charter-focused passenger carrier, experimented with several used narrow-body aircraft types, operated international charter services, experienced a serious turbulence incident in 2019, and was reported to have two Boeing 737-300 aircraft in service as of August 2025. Further details about its present commercial network and corporate structure require confirmation from primary company or aviation-authority sources.

• 2025

  Reported current fleet of two Boeing 737-300 aircraft

  [1]ALK Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Fleet information dated August 2025 lists two Boeing 737-300 aircraft as current equipment.

• 2019

  Severe turbulence incident on flight VBB-7205

  [1]ALK Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  A Boeing 737-300 flying from Pristina to Basel encountered severe turbulence at approximately 32,000 feet. Ten passengers were taken to hospital following the landing.

• 2016

  Company established

  [1]ALK Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  ALK Airlines was established in May 2016 in Bulgaria and began operations after a short period.

• 2016

  Initial Fokker 100 fleet plan

  [1]ALK Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  The airline planned to acquire Fokker 100 aircraft from the defunct Dutch Antilles Express. One aircraft was operated by ALK Airlines, while another was later sold to Iran Aseman Airlines for spare parts.

A Sofia-based Bulgarian passenger airline focused primarily on charter flying, with international and occasional scheduled passenger operations.

• Air transport service · 2016

  Charter passenger services

  Charter passenger flying is the airline’s principal documented business. ALK Airlines provides aircraft and crew for contracted or organized flights, including tourism, group, seasonal, and other non-scheduled travel requirements. Its charter operations are described as worldwide, with a particular focus on services to and from Bulgaria. Specific tour-operator relationships, route schedules, and service volumes are not identified in the available reference material.

• Air transport service

  Scheduled passenger flights

  In addition to its charter activity, ALK Airlines has been described as operating some scheduled passenger flights. Public information does not establish the full route network, timetable, sales channels, or the extent to which scheduled flying remains part of the current business. The offering is therefore best understood as a secondary or limited activity relative to the carrier’s charter operations.

• Aircraft-based passenger capacity

  Boeing 737-300 operations

  As of August 2025, the reported current fleet comprised two Boeing 737-300 aircraft. The type provides narrow-body passenger capacity suitable for European charter missions and other short- to medium-haul operations. The available source does not specify registrations, cabin layouts, ownership arrangements, or individual deployment patterns.

1. 1ALK Airlinesen.wikipedia.org