SOF Connect launches new €15 million baggage handling system
SOF Connect, the operator of Sofia's Vasil Levski Airport, has put into operation a new checked baggage handling system in Terminal 2, backed by a €15 million investment. The new technology increases baggage processing capacity eightfold, from 400 to 3,200 pieces per hour.
The system's launch ceremony was attended by SOF Connect CEO Jesús Caballero, Slatina district mayor Georgi Iliev, Civil Aviation Administration Director General Anelia Marinova, and the French Ambassador to Bulgaria Marie Dumoulin, together with representatives of institutions, business and the aviation industry.
SOF Connect CEO Jesús Caballero said the baggage handling system is one of the key elements of airport operations, and that the investment is meant to bring faster, more reliable and more efficient performance while maintaining the highest safety standards. He added that the solution is also designed to serve the airport's future needs, as it is expected to be able to handle up to 20 million passengers a year.
The system was supplied by French company Alstef Group and American firm Leidos using state-of-the-art technology.
- Investment
- €15 million
- New capacity
- 3,200 bags/h
- Original capacity
- 400 bags/h
- Check-in counters
- 52
- Carousels
- 6
- Suppliers
- Alstef Group, Leidos
The new facility includes 52 check-in counters and six carousels – one long, four small and one parallel line – supplemented by a separate line for oversized baggage. While the old system relied on a single outdated machine, the new solution consists of four high-performance machines with a combined weight of about 7 tonnes.
The new infrastructure supports traditional counter check-in as well as self-service baggage drop after online check-in and assisted service by airline staff.
Security features
- The system includes three Leidos Explosive Detection Systems (EDS) with triple redundancy, each capable of processing up to 1,200 bags per hour.
- It is complemented by new Dual View X-ray systems for secondary screening, which improve the ability to detect and identify potential threats.
- Baggage passes through four levels of security screening, with triple redundancy of key systems designed to ensure high operational reliability.
Leidos describes itself as a Fortune 500 global technology company with experience in aviation security and threat detection, which supplied the checked baggage security technology for the Sofia project. The company states it operates nearly 2,000 inline baggage screening systems worldwide.
Alstef Group is an international technology company specializing in the design, integration and maintenance of automated baggage handling systems at airports, with more than sixty years of experience and projects in dozens of countries worldwide. For Sofia Airport, it is the main supplier of the new system and is responsible for its delivery, installation, integration and maintenance.
The solution also includes an entirely new operational IT network and cybersecurity, along with advanced tools for performance and maintenance monitoring. For higher energy efficiency, the system uses highly efficient IE4-class electric motors and an energy-saving conveyor solution.
The new system is expected to have an immediate positive impact on the operations of both airlines and ground handling companies thanks to higher productivity, better control and more reliable baggage processing, while passengers should benefit from a faster, safer and smoother check-in process.
The investment is part of SOF Connect's long-term strategy to transform Vasil Levski Airport into a modern regional aviation hub. According to the operator, the new system is meant to create the technological foundation for the airport's further development, including the construction of Terminal 3 and the modernization of Terminal 2.