Bunavad
| Commenced operations | 25 October 1927 |
|---|---|
| Ceased operations | 1930 |
| Operating bases | Sofia Bozhurishte Airport |
| Fleet size | See Fleet below |
| Destinations | See Routes below |
| Headquarters | Sofia, Bulgaria |
| Key people | Dimitar Tochkov (Director) |
Bunavad (Bulgarian: Бунавадъ; Българско народно въздухоплавателно акционерно дружество) (Bunavad: the Bulgarian National Aeronautical Public Equity Company) was the first national airline of Bulgaria. The airline was conceived in late 1926, operated scheduled services between major Bulgarian cities from October 1927 and closed in 1930.
Bunavad's post-War successors were the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport and Communications' Air Communications Administration (the DVS) which operated under the acronym BVS (Bulgarian: БВС, Български въздушни съобщения) and which in time developed into TABSO and its successors.
In 1926 the Bulgarian government contracted with the German Junkers aircraft manufacturing company to assist in the formation of an airline and equipping it with Junkers airliners. The agreement provided for the state to facilitate certain loans towards the purchase of airliners and to disburse certain funds towards the opening of air services. It was formally signed on 22 November 1926.
During 1927 private Bulgarian business interests led by Dr Dimitar Tochkov as Director formed the Bunavad airline. Bunavad ordered two examples of the then-popular Junkers F.13 for delivery later that year. From the outset, Bunavad offered both passenger and mail/freight services. Bulgaria's first airmail postage stamps duly appeared on sale on 7 November 1927.
An inauguration ceremony for the airline and its first scheduled air service, between Sofia, Ruse, and Varna, was held at Sofia Bozhurishte Airport on 25 October 1927. The Bulgarian government was represented by Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Kimon Georgiev, until recently Minister of Railways and Posts, whose title had been restyled for the occasion to Minister of Railways, Posts, and Aeronautics. His German counterpart was renowned air pioneer Fritz Horn of the Junkers company, who had arrived in a Junkers G.23. Also present were the then-Mayor of Sofia Reserve General Vladimir Vazov, Sofia Metropolitan Bishop Stefan, Konstantsa, wife of then-Prime Minister Andrey Lyapchev, the press, and many members of the public.
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