Slavyantsi Airstrip

Economic reasons and strategic obsolescence following the end of the Cold War. As part of the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, the Bulgarian Armed Forces underwent significant downsizing. The extensive network of reserve and dispersal airfields, including Slavyantsi, was deemed financially unsustainable and no longer strategically necessary. The base was decommissioned as part of a nationwide closure of redundant military facilities.

The airfield is permanently closed and in a state of abandonment. While the main concrete runway is still visible from satellite imagery, it is decaying and unusable for aviation. A large portion of the airfield's grounds, including former taxiways and aprons, has been repurposed and is now occupied by a large-scale photovoltaic (solar) power plant. The remaining structures, such as hangars and support buildings, are derelict.

Slavyantsi was a military airfield built and operated during the Cold War by the Bulgarian Air Force. Its primary role was to serve as a 'Zapasno Letishte' (Reserve Airfield) or dispersal field. In the event of a conflict, aircraft from main operating bases, such as the nearby Bezmer Air Base, would be dispersed to smaller, less obvious airfields like Slavyantsi to increase their survivability against a first strike. It was also frequently used for training missions, particularly for pilots flying jet trainers like the Aero L-29 Delfín and L-39 Albatros. It was an integral part of the Warsaw Pact's defensive military infrastructure in the Balkans.

There are no known or credible plans to reopen the Slavyantsi Airstrip for aviation purposes. The cost of restoring the runway and infrastructure to modern standards would be prohibitive. Furthermore, its proximity to the active Bezmer military air base and the Burgas International Airport makes it economically unviable. The construction of the large solar farm on the property represents a significant, long-term investment in a non-aviation use, making any future reopening extremely unlikely.