SOF Connect, the operator of Sofia Airport, has launched a new automated boarding pass checking system in Terminal 2. The new smart system includes the latest generation of IATA-compliant e-gates and software for connecting to airport and airline systems.
“With the new automatic boarding pass checking system, Sofia Airport reaffirms its commitment to improving the passenger experience,” said Jesús Caballero, CEO, SOF Connect. “Its use significantly reduces queues as passengers can check their boarding passes independently. Electronic gates allow for automatic exchange of information, which minimises human intervention and increases the security level of the check-in process. We are delighted that Sofia Airport is the first Bulgarian airport to launch such e-gates.”
The six smart gates allow for easy and fast passage of travellers, with one of them specially designed for passengers with reduced mobility. The capacity is 10-12 passengers per gate per minute. The e-gates provide a high standard of security and ease of use, and the combined scanners recognise both barcodes and QR codes. The software reads regular boarding passes, which can be electronic or on paper.
“A few days before Sofia Airport becomes an open door to the Schengen area, an automatic boarding pass checking system is introduced,” said Anna Mihneva-Natova, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications. “This is very important in view of the approaching holidays and summer season, when the number of travellers increases. The fulfilment of the concessionaire’s commitments at Sofia Airport are periodically discussed at a joint committee at the Ministry of Transport and Communications. We followed with particular attention Sofia Airport’s preparations for our country’s accession to Schengen and for meeting the requirements. In parallel, we are assisting the concessionaire in the administrative procedures related to the modernisation of the airport. And we expect the results to be visible and measurable in improved passenger comfort and expanded capacity of Sofia Airport.”
