New baggage handling system launched at Bulgaria’s Vassil Levski Sofia Airport Terminal 2
SOF Connect, the operator of Vassil Levski Sofia Airport, launched a new high-tech baggage handling system at Terminal 2, the airport said in a media statement on September 2.
SOF Connect’s investment in the project is 15 million euro.
“The baggage handling system is extremely important for the overall functioning of an airport,” SOF Connect chief executive Jesús Caballero said.
“With this investment, we are taking a key step towards faster, more reliable and more efficient operations, while ensuring the highest security standards. The new system is designed not only to meet today’s needs, but also to support the future of Vassil Levski Sofia Airport and its capacity to serve 20 million passengers annually,” he said.
The new system represents a key milestone in the modernisation and technological development of the airport, the media statement said.
Implemented using state-of-the-art technologies from the French and American companies Alstef Group and Leidos, it increases the capacity for handling checked baggage eight times – from 400 to 3200 bags per hour, the airport said.
The new BHS features 52 check-in desks, six carousels – one long carousel, four small carousels and one parallel line – as well as a dedicated oversized baggage line.
Unlike the previous system, which relied on a single outdated machine, the new solution features four high-performance machines with a combined weight of approximately seven tons.
“The system is designed for high performance, operational continuity and efficiency,” the airport said.
The new infrastructure supports both conventional check-in and self-bag drop following online check-in, as well as assisted service by airline staff.
Security is a core element of the new system, the statement said.
It includes three Leidos Explosive Detection Systems (EDS) with triple redundancy. Each system can process up to 1200 bags an hour.
In addition, new Dual View X-ray systems for secondary screening have been installed, providing enhanced capabilities for detecting and identifying potential threats.
Baggage passes through four levels of security, while the triple redundancy of critical systems ensures a high level of operational reliability and resilience.
The statement said that the introduction of the new system will have an immediate positive impact on the operations of airlines and ground handling operators, providing higher productivity, improved control and more reliable baggage handling.
“For passengers, this means a faster, safer and more seamless checked baggage handling process,” it said.
(Photo: Sofia Airport)
