RULES FOR USE OF THE GATED ACCESS AREA AT SOFIA AIRPORT

These Rules for Use of the Gated Access Area at Vasil Levski Sofia Airport (the “Rules”) apply to all persons entering the area enclosed by entry and exit barriers around Terminal 2 (“Gated Access Area”). The Rules include the rules for access, the applicable charge and the permitted use of the Gated Access Area, including of the Kiss & Ride Zone located in the Gated Access Area, right next to the departures and arrivals entrances at Terminal 2.

By entering into the Gated Access Area, users consent to be bound by these Rules toward SOF Connect AD, UIC 206155179, with seat and registered address in Sofia, 1 Christopher Columbus Blvd., Sofia Airport, website: https://sofia-airport.eu/en/ (“SOF Connect”).

Contact information of SOF Connect: 

E-mail: parking@sof-connect.com
Contact phone number: +359 876687927

1. Vehicle Groups

2. Rules for Entry and Exit

2.1. Upon entering the Gated Access Area, the driver shall obtain an entry ticket from the barrier system.

2.2. Exit from the Gated Access Area is possible either by entering into a parking lot or exiting through the exit barriers. If the vehicle proceeds to a parking lot, the barrier to the parking lot will open automatically. If the barrier does not open, the ticket issued upon entering the Gated Access Area must be scanned at the entrance of the chosen parking lot.

2.3. If the vehicle proceeds to exit the Gated Access Area through an exit barrier, the barrier will be automatically lifted, provided that the vehicle is exiting within the free time under item 3.1 or the applicable charges have been paid. If the barrier does not lift automatically, the ticket issued upon entering the Gated Access Area must be scanned.

2.4. The users of the Gated Access Area must retain the ticket until they exit the Gated Access Area with their vehicle. In case of loss of the ticket, the users may press the information button on the pay machines or call the Parking customer service on 0876233051 / 0877482238 (no additional charge added.).  In case of loss of the ticket, if there is no record of the vehicle’s registration number in SOF Connect’s system due to the user’s conduct, the user must pay a penalty in the amount of BGN 100, in addition to the charges due for the use of the Gated Access Area. If the user has entered a parking lot, the penalty for a lost ticket shall be charged only once, and there shall be no cumulation of penalties for a lost ticket under these Rules and the Rules for Parking at Sofia Airport. 

3. Applicable Charge 

3.1. The time, which is free of charge for the access and temporary stay within the Gated Access Area, shall be 10 minutes. The following special rules shall apply:

• An additional 20 minutes free of charge (on top of the general 10 minutes) shall be given to vehicles transporting (i) passengers who have validly registered for Sofia Airport’s assistance service for passengers with reduced mobility (PRM) for a flight on the respective date and (ii) passengers holding a valid card for people with disabilities pursuant to Council Recommendation 98/376/EC or a national document evidencing the passenger’s disability. To take advantage of the additional minutes, information on the passenger using the PRM service or the respective disability document must be presented in the following manner:
  • For passengers being picked-up: The parking staff must be contacted before leaving the airport by stopping in the dedicated lane located at the exit of the Gated Access Area, in front of the pay stations.
  • For passengers being dropped-off: The parking staff must be contacted by calling 0876 233 051 or 0877 482 238, or via the intercom system by pressing the call button located on the ticket machines.
• Vehicles from Group 2 will also have 30 minutes free stay in parking P8.

3.2. If the vehicle has not exited the Gated Access Area within the specified time under item 3.1, the charge visible on the information boards at the Gated Access Area shall be applied. The charge shall also begin to incur in instances where the vehicle exits a parking lot, but does not exit the Gated Access Area within the specified free time under item 3.1.

3.3. The minimum “free of charge” interval between entries in the Gated Access Area without using the parking service is 60 minutes. If a vehicle re-enters the Gated Access Area before 60 minutes have elapsed since its last entry and does not enter a parking lot within 10 minutes of such re-entry, the charge shall begin to accrue from the moment of the re-entry.

3.4. Taxi vehicles registered with the public register under Art. 12, para. 4 of the Automobile Transport Act for performing taxi transport on the territory of Sofia Municipality may enter the Gated Access Area up to 6 times per day (between 00:00 and 23:59), without observing the 60-minutes interval between entries under item 3.3. No charge shall apply for each of these 6 entries, provided that the respective taxi vehicle has not exceeded the time, which is free of charge for the access and temporary stay within the Gated Access Area (i.e. 10 minutes). For each entry after the 6^th, the charge shall begin to accrue from the moment of entry into the Gated Access Area, unless the vehicle enters a parking lot within 10 minutes of such entry, in which case only the respective parking fee will apply.

The rule under this item 3.4 shall not apply to taxi vehicles breaching traffic rules in the Gated Access Area or to vehicles leaving the Gated Access Area by tailgating or other prohibited means to avoid payment.

Taxi companies may request the exclusion of vehicles included in their registration certificate from the application of the special rule under this item 3.4. Requests for exclusion must be submitted via an official letter signed by the taxi company representative, specifying the company’s registration certificate under Art. 12, para. 1 of the Automobile Transport Act and the vehicles plate numbers to be removed. The letter must be sent to parking@sof-connect.com. The respective taxi vehicles will be excluded from the application of the rule under this 3.4 within 3 business days of receipt of the letter. 

4. Permitted Use 

4.1. The Kiss & Ride Zone within the Gated Access Area is intended for a short stop to quickly drop someone off, pick someone up or enter a parking lot.

4.2. Only temporary stay is allowed in the Kiss & Ride Zone, and all drivers must remain in their vehicle. Stay outside the Kiss & Ride Zone is forbidden.

4.3. Loading and unloading activities may be performed only in the designated area.

4.4. Parking in the Gated Access Area is strictly prohibited. All parked vehicles are subject to repatriation at the driver’s expense. Information regarding towed vehicles: 0700 13 233 Urban Mobility Center https://sofiatraffic.bg

4.5. Drivers must observe the applicable road traffic laws in the Republic of Bulgaria.

4.6. No other activities besides those mentioned in items 4.1 to 4.3 hereof shall be permitted without the prior written consent of SOF Connect.

5. Payment Terms

5.1. The applicable fee at the Gated Access Area can be paid through any of the following options:

By cash and/ or by card:

• at any parking payment station at Terminal 2; and
• next to the exit (dedicated pocket for a short stop with payment station);

By card only:

• at the exit barriers.

5.2. In case the vehicle has entered a parking lot, the fee accumulated for the stay in the Gated Access Area prior to its entry into the parking lot will be added to the fee applicable for the parking service. The user of the Gated Access Area must pay both charges in order to exit the Gated Access Area.

5.3. Within 5 calendar days following payment of the charge for the Gated Access Area, the payee can request an electronic invoice by sending the original ticket, receipt and the invoicing data to the following e-mail address: sc-invoicing@sof-connect.com. Requests for VAT invoices sent beyond 5 calendar days from the date of the end of the stay in the Gated Access Area will be rejected.

5.4. Leaving the Gated Access Area without paying the applicable charge (either through tailgating or other prohibited means) incurs a penalty in the amount of BGN 100, in addition to the applicable charge due. 

6. Additional Information

6.1. Information on the processing of personal data related to the use and administration of the Gated Access Area can be found on SOF Connect’s website.

6.2. The authorities engaged with ADR in Bulgaria can be found on the following link: https://www.mi.government.bg/library/aktualiziran-spisak-na-priznatite-organi-za-alternativno-reshavane-na-sporove-mezhdu-potrebiteli-i-targovtsi-na-teritoriyata-na-republika-balgariya/

Link to the website of the Commission for Consumers Protection: https://www.kzp.bg/