Leonardo group wins baggage handling deal in Saudi Arabia

Leonardo, MAFA and BELTCON have been awarded the baggage handling system automation package contract for the new Terminal 2 expansion of Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, operated by Tibah Airports Operation Company. The project represents a significant milestone for all project partners and introduces Leonardo’s MBHS Cross-belt Sorter technology into the country for the first time. Leonardo will supply its MBHS Cross-belt Sorter together with its advanced Sort Allocation Computer (SAC), providing intelligent baggage routing for departures, transfers, and arrivals while ensuring seamless integration with airport operational systems. MAFA, together with BELTCON, will be responsible for the engineering, system integration, manufacturing, installation, testing, commissioning, and successful delivery of the complete baggage handling system. The MBHS Cross-belt Sorter has already been successfully deployed in more than fifty airport projects worldwide and is recognized for its ability to handle conventional as well as irregularly shaped baggage with exceptional accuracy and reliability. Utilising advanced linear motor technology, inductive power transmission, and wireless communication, the system delivers outstanding sorting performance while significantly reducing operational and maintenance costs. The project directly supports the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing aviation sector and the objectives of Vision 2030, responding to increasing passenger demand driven by tourism, business travel, and the millions of pilgrims visiting Madinah each year for Hajj and Umrah. The solution has been specifically designed to provide high availability, operational flexibility, and future scalability required by one of the Kingdom’s busiest international gateways. Site installation activities are scheduled to commence in January 2027, with final system commissioning expected in April 2027. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]