Sofia Airport’s New Automated Boarding Pass System to Triple Speed of Checks

Jerusalem, 6 March, 2024 (TPS) -- SOFIA (BTA)
Sofia Airport’s new automated boarding pass system will triple the speed of checks, Jesus Caballero, CEO of SOF Connect, Sofia Airport’s operator, said on Wednesday at the official commissioning of the facility.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at Terminal 2.

This is part of the strategy to facilitate the passenger experience, Caballero added, explaining that it will increase security and improve efficiency, as the electronic counters have the capacity of three traditional ones.

Caballero explained that this is the first airport in Bulgaria with such an automated system consisting of six terminals. From now on, passengers will go to the boarding pass verification system after check-in.

“We are committed to developing Terminal 2, as well as Terminal 1, with plans to renovate it before we close it in 2030 to open Terminal 3,” Cabareio said.

He noted that there is another important innovation that passengers will see as they completely renovate the check-in counters. Now there are 35 counters, which will increase to 52. Architects and designers are working with the authorities to get permission, so the airport expects to start building new check-in counters by the end this year or the beginning of 2025, Caballero added.

Security and convenience are two very important conditions for the development of European airports, noted Deputy Transport Minister Anna Mihneva-Natova. She added that she is glad that a few days before Sofia Airport becomes an open door to the Schengen area, the concessionaire is implementing a modern automatic system for checking the passengers’ boarding passes.

Natova said that the Ministry of Transport monitors the implementation of concessionaire monthly. We also monitored with special attention the airport’s compliance with Schengen requirements, Natova added.