Alstef has been chosen to both design and implement a new baggage handling system (BHS) upgrade for San Jose’s Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in Costa Rica.
The project is set to be delivered in accordance with the airport’s wider expansion plans which aim to accommodate increasing passenger demand, enhance operational efficiency and improve travel experiences across the board.
As part of the installation, Alstef will introduce the new baggage handling system in a series of stages, implementing significant upgrades with each phase.
Phase one, which is set to be carried out over the next three years, will see the construction of a new baggage handling system situated in SJO’s newly expanded terminal and include the installation of twelve check-in stations with SBDs, new conveyors for checked baggage transfer to the screening area and a new make-up carousel.
Outbound BHS equipment will be contained in an extension purpose built by airport manager AERIS, with the initial phase also seeing the integration of a new reclaim area with two infeed lines.
Ricardo Hernández, AERIS Holding, said:The modernisation of the baggage handling system is a key pillar in our Master Plan for expansion, and having a strategic partner like Alstef Group will allow us to optimize operational efficiency and enhance the passenger experience. This project not only addresses the growth in air traffic but also reinforces our commitment to innovation and airport security.
Through this partnership, we are advancing the transformation of Juan Santamaría Airport to continue delivering world-class service.
Phase two will see Alstef connecting the new system to the terminal’s existing infrastructure, as well as replacing three inclined reclaim carousels and their associated infeed lines with higher-capacity models and installing an updated sortation loop.
An out-of-gage bag elevator will also be added, alongside a manual encoding station in order to automate the handling of larger or oddly shaped baggage.
Future upgrades planned as part of the phases include two new inline screening machines, a dedicated CBRA Level 3 inspection zone, new check-in lines and a second sort loop.
Along the way, each phase will be fully supported by Alstef as part of an inclusive two-year maintenance contract.
Philippe Hamon, Alstef Group Sales Director Airport Solutions, said:We are excited to partner with AERIS at Juan Santamaría Airport on this challenging and transformative project, reinforcing our commitment to delivering efficient and reliable baggage handling solutions.
Our extensive experience in phased retro-upgrades will enable the airport to modernize and expand with minimal disruption, providing passengers and airlines with a seamless and dependable baggage process.
