BHS: The heart of the airport. Top-tier European companies invited to compete in major tender for Poland’s CPK
Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) – Poland’s flagship infrastructure project combining a new international airport with a nationwide high-speed rail network – has invited bids for the design, delivery, installation and commissioning of the Baggage Handling System (BHS) for CPK Airport. This marks a key step in the competitive dialogue procedure for one of the most critical systems in any modern airport. The efficiency of this system will directly impact baggage delivery times, smooth flight transfers, and overall passenger experience.
Three leading European companies have been invited to submit offers: Vanderlande Industries, Siemens Logistics, and BEUMER Group Poland – all recognised as global leaders in baggage handling technologies. These companies have been participating in the ongoing competitive dialogue initiated by CPK in 2024. Contractors have 60 days to submit their bids.
The detailed specification of the procurement has been published on CPK’s “SmartPZP” platform
The Baggage Handling System is a key element of the airport’s infrastructure, designed with passenger needs in mind and expected to deliver top operational performance as well as long-term technical reliability. The future CPK Airport’s baggage system will occupy approximately 80,000 square metres within the terminal building. It will include over 13 km of conveyor belts and will be based on ICS (Individual Carrier System) technology which transports luggage in dedicated trays. This solution ensures high efficiency, flexibility, and allows modular expansion as the terminal and air traffic volumes grow.
The project includes the development of the detailed design, delivery, and installation of equipment, followed by system commissioning, testing, and ongoing maintenance. We are drawing on the best available market solutions to ensure the highest standards of security, efficiency, and operational performance for the Baggage Handling System at CPK Airport.
The potential contractors were qualified to take part in the competitive dialogue after a rigorous verification process, which assessed criteria such as experience and successful delivery of a BHS in airports with a capacity of at least 30 million passengers per year within the past 25 years. During the dialogue phase, CPK and the participants jointly refined technical and legal conditions as well as the scope of the contract.
The new system will address one of the key limitations of Warsaw’s existing Chopin Airport, which is nearing capacity. The long-term baggage throughput at Chopin Airport is currently limited to just 1,800 items for departures and 2,200 for arrivals – equivalent to baggage from a maximum of seven Boeing 787 Dreamliners at a time.
CPK is finalising the architectural designs for the new passenger terminal, railway, and bus stations. It is also progressing with civil engineering plans for runways, taxiways, and supporting facilities, including the AOCC, air traffic control tower, maintenance base and buildings for the Airport Rescue and Firefighting Services. In January, the Mazovian Voivode issued a location decision for key project elements that allows CPK to start preparing building permit applications for the terminal, stations, and essential infrastructure.
CPK: A game-changer for Poland’s transport system
In 2024, CPK made historic progress in planning a modern, integrated transport system. With a state-of-the-art airport, high-speed rail, and road networks developing simultaneously, this ambitious investment is set to transform Poland’s connectivity, drive economic growth, and position the country as a major European transport hub.
Scheduled to open in 2032 CPK will serve as Poland’s new central airport. The project also includes a high-speed rail network. Strategically located at the heart of Central and Eastern Europe, CPK will be a major global transfer hub. Optimised flight routes, shorter transfers, and multimodal integration will ensure smooth connections between Polish cities, European capitals, and the rest of the world—making travel faster and more convenient than ever before.
