Sofia Airport Terminal 3 is a large-scale new passenger terminal project with a gross floor area of 65,000 sq m and a budget of BGN 500 million, forming part of the airport's long-term transformation. The conceptual design was developed by IPA - Architecture and more in collaboration with engineering company Egis and French architectural studio 1PAX. The project adds to the IPA - Architecture and more portfolio of public buildings and was developed within the broader architectural concept for the terminal infrastructure.
Construction of Terminal 3 is planned to begin in fall 2026, with completion scheduled for April 2031. The new terminal will be directly connected to Terminal 2, and the development of the two terminals will increase the overall capacity of Sofia Airport to 20 million passengers per year.
One of SOF Connect's stated objectives is for Sofia Airport to achieve the status of Europe's first five-star regional airport. This ambition is linked to the Skytrax rating system, which assesses the overall passenger experience and quality of airport services.
The architectural concept for Terminal 3 combines contemporary architecture, sustainable design, and engineering solutions focused on fast and intuitive passenger movement. All gates are planned to be reachable within five minutes from the central commercial area. Terminal 3 will be approximately twice the size of the existing Terminal 2 and will be directly connected to it.
The terminal is designed for different passenger profiles, including business travelers, tourists, and people traveling to visit friends and relatives. Children's play areas, gaming spaces, and pet zones are included in the program. Functional planning and passenger flow organization are designed to accommodate both traditional airlines and low-cost carriers.
Terminal 3 will be organized across several functional levels. Level -1 is dedicated to technical operations, Level 0 to arriving passengers and baggage claim, while Level 1 accommodates departures, security screening, food and beverage areas, and more than 10,000 sq m of commercial space. Level 2 provides flight connections and circulation for passengers arriving from outside the Schengen Area and the EU. Following the expansion, Terminals 2 and 3 will provide a total of 34 gates.
The project includes 52 check-in counters, including self-service facilities, together with new access control, boarding pass, and passport control systems. Security screening is designed for a capacity of up to 3,250 passengers per hour, while the baggage handling system will process up to 2,400 bags per hour. Six baggage reclaim belts are planned for the new arrivals area.
Terminal 3 forms part of the broader investment program for the development of Sofia Airport. More than BGN 1.2 billion is planned to be invested over the concession period, with BGN 500 million allocated to the construction of the new terminal.
The expansion of the terminal infrastructure is intended to increase airport capacity and improve the international air connectivity of Sofia and Bulgaria.
Terminal 3 combines architectural and engineering design, the organization of complex passenger flows, commercial and service functions, and new technological systems. The project forms part of the long-term development of Sofia Airport and the planned expansion of its passenger capacity.
