Bata Airfield

Economic reasons and systemic political change. The airfield was part of Bulgaria's state-owned agricultural aviation network ('Selskostopanska Aviatsiya'). This network became defunct following the fall of the communist regime in 1989. The subsequent transition to a market economy, the dissolution of large state-run agricultural cooperatives, and the collapse of the centralized agricultural aviation service rendered hundreds of such small airfields, including Bata, economically unviable and obsolete.

The site has been completely repurposed and is no longer recognizable as an active airfield. The entire length of the former runway and adjacent land is now occupied by a large photovoltaic power plant, known as the 'Bata Solar Park'. The distinct outline of the runway is still visible from satellite imagery, but it is covered by rows of solar panels. Any remaining original structures, such as small hangars or administrative buildings, appear to be derelict or are used for purposes related to the solar farm.

Bata Airfield was a utility/agricultural airfield. Its primary and likely sole purpose was to serve as a base for crop-dusting and other agricultural aviation services for the surrounding farmlands, which are a significant part of the Pomorie and Burgas regions. During its operational years under the socialist government, it would have hosted aircraft like the Antonov An-2, which were the workhorses of agricultural fleets in Eastern Bloc countries. It was a small but integral part of the infrastructure supporting Bulgaria's collectivized agriculture, but it never handled commercial passenger or cargo traffic.

None. The prospect of reopening Bata Airfield for aviation is virtually zero. The permanent conversion of the land into a large-scale solar energy park makes any return to its original function impossible. Additionally, the close proximity of Burgas Airport (IATA: BOJ, ICAO: LBBG), a major international airport just 12 km to the south, eliminates any strategic or commercial need for another airfield in this location.