Travelling to the northern part of Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast is to get easier following an announcement to convert an inactive military airport in Balchik into a civil airport.

Homeowners and holidaymakers staying in some of Bulgaria’s most popular beach resorts, including Balchik, Golden Sands, Kranevo and Albena, will have a much shorter transfer time by flying to Balchik – currently they must fly to Varna, 40 kilometres south. The new airport will also improve access to the Balchik region’s three professional golf courses – the Black Sea Rama, Lighthouse Golf Resort and Thracian Cliffs.

The airport at Balchik is expected to relieve Varna airport, which is maxed out in high season, of around a third of its current flights. The plan is to have the new civilian airport completed by May 1, 2012.

For an idea of what you can buy in Balchik, agent Bulgarian Properties is currently selling a finished, furnished two-bedroom apartment with sea views on the Kaliakria Golf & Sea Resort (golf course under construction) for €79,000. For more properties in Bulgaria, see the Bulgaria section of Rightmove Overseas.

To understand the full step-by-step process to buying a property in Bulgaria, collect The Overseas Guides Company’s ‘Bulgaria Property Buying Guide’