GullivAir

GullivAir is a Bulgarian airline headquartered in Sofia. Established in 2016, it did not begin operating commercial services until it obtained an air operator certificate from the Bulgarian authorities in September 2020. The carrier launched operations later that year with a single Airbus A330-200 that had previously been operated by Shaheen Air. Its initial business was centered on ad hoc charter flying and regular charter programs connecting Bulgaria and Romania with long-haul leisure destinations, including the Dominican Republic and the Maldives. The airline initially presented itself as a potential scheduled and charter carrier with ambitions extending beyond leisure routes. It applied to begin flights to New York and announced plans to add more Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft as well as ATR 72 turboprops. Its first scheduled destination from Sofia was Burgas, with the inaugural service operating on 15 August 2021. In 2022, GullivAir added inaugural flights to Skopje on 26 March and Tirana on 2 April, and it also considered domestic service to Ruse. These moves suggested an attempt to build a broader regional network alongside its long-haul charter activity. The planned regular-route expansion did not fully materialize. GullivAir subsequently shifted its commercial emphasis toward the ACMI market, in which an airline supplies aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance to another carrier. This model enabled GullivAir to use its fleet on behalf of external airline customers rather than relying solely on its own branded scheduled network. Reported ACMI and wet-lease customers have included flyadeal, Corsair International, Air Greenland, Surinam Airways, and TUI fly Deutschland, among others. The shift reflects a common strategic path for smaller airlines: concentrating on contracted capacity can provide more predictable aircraft utilization while reducing the marketing and network risks associated with independently operated routes. In October 2025, the Bulgarian government granted GullivAir traffic rights for Karachi and Lahore in Pakistan. Those rights were described as part of a plan to support future long-haul services from Sofia to New York and Chicago, targeted for April 2026. The available reference material states that, as of April 2026, the Pakistan and United States services had not yet commenced commercial operations. GullivAir's recent identity is therefore best understood as that of a Bulgarian charter, ACMI, and wet-lease airline with ambitions for a larger long-haul network, rather than as an established global scheduled carrier.

GullivAir was established in Bulgaria in 2016, although several years passed before it became an operating airline. The company obtained its Bulgarian air operator certificate in September 2020 and began flying in December of that year. Its first aircraft was an Airbus A330-200 inherited from Shaheen Air. The initial operation combined ad hoc charter flights with regular charter programs from Bulgaria and Romania to long-haul leisure destinations, notably the Dominican Republic and the Maldives. The company also sought authorization to fly to New York and discussed the addition of further A330 wide-body aircraft and ATR 72 turboprops. GullivAir's first scheduled destination from Sofia was Burgas. The route opened with an inaugural flight on 15 August 2021. During the following year, the airline extended its regional profile through inaugural services to Skopje on 26 March 2022 and Tirana on 2 April 2022. Domestic flights to Ruse were also considered. These plans were part of a broader attempt to establish GullivAir as both a Bulgarian regional carrier and a provider of long-haul charter capacity. The proposed regular network did not develop at the scale originally envisioned. GullivAir consequently moved toward the ACMI market, supplying aircraft and operating resources to other airlines under wet-lease arrangements. In this model, GullivAir can operate flights using its own aircraft and crew while the customer airline markets or incorporates the capacity into its network. Reported customers have included flyadeal, Corsair International, Air Greenland, Surinam Airways, and TUI fly Deutschland. The change gave the airline a more contract-oriented business model and reduced its dependence on independently building a large branded route network. The airline continued to pursue long-haul opportunities. In October 2025, Bulgaria granted it traffic rights to Karachi and Lahore in Pakistan. These rights were linked to plans for flights from Sofia to Pakistan and to future services to New York and Chicago, with the latter expansion targeted for April 2026. The available reference material records that the Pakistan and United States routes had not yet started commercial operations as of April 2026. GullivAir's development therefore comprises three principal phases: formation before operations, an initial charter and prospective scheduled-network phase beginning in 2020, and a later strategic emphasis on ACMI and wet-lease services alongside continued long-haul ambitions.

• 2025

  Traffic rights for Pakistan awarded

  [1]GullivAiren.wikipedia.org

  The Bulgarian government grants the airline rights to operate to Karachi and Lahore.

• 2022

  Regional route inaugurations

  [1]GullivAiren.wikipedia.org

  GullivAir begins inaugural services to Skopje on 26 March and Tirana on 2 April.

• 2021

  First scheduled Sofia–Burgas flight

  [1]GullivAiren.wikipedia.org

  GullivAir inaugurates its first scheduled destination from Sofia on 15 August.

• 2020

  Air operator certificate obtained

  [1]GullivAiren.wikipedia.org

  GullivAir receives its operational license from Bulgarian authorities in September.

• 2020

  Commercial operations begin

  [1]GullivAiren.wikipedia.org

  The airline starts flying in December with an Airbus A330-200 and launches charter activity.

• 2016

  GullivAir is established

  [1]GullivAiren.wikipedia.org

  The Bulgarian airline is established, beginning the process that would eventually lead to certification and commercial operations.

A Bulgarian charter and ACMI airline focused on long-haul leisure flying, wet-lease contracts, and prospective expansion into intercontinental scheduled services.

• Wide-body passenger aircraft services · 2020

  Airbus A330 passenger operations

  GullivAir began operations with an Airbus A330-200 and used wide-body capacity for long-haul charter flying. The aircraft type also supports the airline's later ACMI and wet-lease role, allowing it to provide intercontinental passenger capacity to customer airlines and tour operators.

• Charter airline services · 2020

  Passenger charter flights

  The airline's original commercial offering consisted of ad hoc and regular charter services from Bulgaria and Romania. Early long-haul charter destinations included the Dominican Republic and the Maldives, reflecting a focus on leisure and holiday traffic rather than a large independently operated scheduled network.

• Airline capacity services

  ACMI and wet-lease services

  GullivAir supplies aircraft and operating resources to other airlines through ACMI and wet-lease arrangements. The package generally covers aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance. Reported customers have included flyadeal, Corsair International, Air Greenland, Surinam Airways, and TUI fly Deutschland.

• Scheduled passenger services · 2021

  Regional passenger routes

  GullivAir temporarily expanded its branded route profile with services from Sofia to Burgas, Skopje, and Tirana. The airline also considered domestic flights to Ruse, although the broader regular-route strategy did not fully materialize.

• 2025

  Pursuit of Pakistan and North American long-haul routesStrategy

  Background

  GullivAir sought to broaden its long-haul network beyond charter and ACMI flying.

  Action taken

  In October, the Bulgarian government granted the airline rights to fly to Karachi and Lahore. The rights were associated with plans for Sofia services to Pakistan and proposed routes to New York and Chicago.

  Aftermath

  The referenced plans targeted the start of New York and Chicago flights in April 2026, but the routes had not begun commercial operations as of that month.

  Source

• Shift from planned scheduled expansion to ACMI operationsStrategy

  Background

  GullivAir's plans for a broader regular route network did not develop as intended after its initial charter and regional expansion.

  Action taken

  The airline placed greater emphasis on ACMI and wet-lease contracts for other carriers, operating flights for customers including flyadeal, Corsair International, Air Greenland, Surinam Airways, and TUI fly Deutschland.

  Aftermath

  The change made contracted capacity provision a central part of GullivAir's business while the airline retained ambitions for additional long-haul routes.

  Source

1. 1GullivAiren.wikipedia.org