Çukurova International Airport (COV), located in the Tarsus district of Mersin Province, is the new aviation hub for southern Turkey and the gateway to the historic Çukurova region, formerly known as Cilicia. The area, known for its agriculture, industry, and trade, serves as a natural bridge between Anatolia and the Mediterranean.
Designed to handle up to 9 million passengers annually, the airport replaces the former Adana Şakirpaşa Airport, which was limited by its central location and lack of expansion capacity. Following the transfer of commercial operations, Çukurova became the primary airport for the Adana region, welcoming both domestic and international carriers.
From the very beginning, the project had a clear ambition: to equip the new terminal with a baggage handling system (BHS) that combines efficiency, reliability, and long-term scalability.
Dimark was selected to deliver this vision — implementing a fully integrated system that ensures seamless baggage processing while supporting the airport’s operational excellence and readiness for future growth.
BHS System at Cukurova International Airport (COV)
Project challenges
The project covered both departures and arrivals areas, requiring seamless integration with standard 3 EDS machines and the installation of a large-scale tilt-tray sorter. Advanced video surveillance was also a key requirement – the implementation of DiVMS (Dimark Video Monitoring System) included CCTV cameras, recording, and full integration with DiSCADA for instant diagnostics and system performance analysis.
A further challenge was to guarantee video traceability of every bag throughout the system, enhancing passenger safety and confidence. At the same time, high system availability had to be secured through dedicated maintenance software (DiMS) and robust hotline support meeting the strictest cybersecurity standards.
Non-standard solutions
To meet these requirements, Dimark designed and implemented a tilt-tray sorter with 122 trays, complemented by chutes and induction lines. The arrivals area was equipped with seven make-up carousels totaling 360 meters in length, while the departures area included 50 check-in counters and approximately 2,700 meters of conveyors in whole system.
On the automation side, Dimark delivered a full suite of IT and control systems: DiSCADA, DiSAC, DiMS, DiVMS, ATR, and BRS. The project was completed with staff training and comprehensive as-built documentation, ensuring smooth system operations.
Final results
The outcome is a cutting-edge BHS system that supports the operational needs of a rapidly expanding airport. The sorter runs at 1.8 m/s, handling up to 5,100 bags per hour, while the overall system throughput exceeds 3,000 bags per hour.
This has significantly improved operational efficiency, reduced delays, and strengthened the airport’s ability to deliver high-quality services.
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