From Check-In to Carousel: Leading Technology Providers, Innovations & Trends

Summer is coming, and so are the bags! As we all start planning our getaways, it’s the perfect time to look behind the scenes at one of the most underestimated parts of the journey: your checked bag. In this second edition of Airport Automation Weekly, we follow a suitcase from the self-service kiosk to the baggage carousel, uncovering how automation, AI, and innovation are making travel smoother and smarter. With global examples, real technologies, and practical insights, this edition is for airport executives, airlines, tech partners and anyone curious about what keeps airport operations running at full speed during peak season.

Introduction

Modern airports are investing heavily in end-to-end automation of the checked baggage journey to improve efficiency, security, and passenger experience. This research examines each stage of a bag’s journey:

1. Check-In & Tagging
2. Baggage Handling Systems
3. Security Screening
4. Airside Transportation & Loading
5. Baggage Reclaim

Get ready for a strategic look at what this means for airlines, operators, and tech partners in the age of seamless travel.

1. Check-In & Tagging (SBD Self Bag Drop)

Overview of Technologies & Processes: review of Technologies & Processes: The journey begins at check-in, where passengers now increasingly encounter self-service baggage drop systems. Instead of waiting for an agent, travelers can print a bag tag (at a kiosk or even at home) and deposit their luggage at an automated bag-drop unit. These units scan the boarding pass or passport to retrieve the flight reservation, weigh the bag, check size/weight compliance, then print and attach a tag (or validate a home-printed/RFID tag), and dispatch the bag into the system. Many airports have deployed one-step self bag-drop kiosks that allow passengers to identify themselves and send off their bags in under 30 seconds. This streamlines the process and reduces queues, giving passengers more control over their journey. According to IPS a SITA company ’s latest industry report, 85% of airports worldwide now have self-service bag drop technology in place, and roughly two-thirds of airlines offer unassisted self bag drop to their customers. Some airlines also enable passengers to print baggage tags at home (about 24% of carriers so far) or use reusable electronic bag tags linked to their profile.

Leading SBD Providers:

• Materna Materna IPS (SITA) – offers one-step and two-step self bag drop units (e.g. Materna Drop.Go), now under SITA, with deployments across Europe, Americas, and Asia.
• Amadeus Amadeus (ICM) – through its acquisition of ICM, offers the Series 7 Auto Bag Drop units used in over 1,100 units globally (common in airports like Sydney, Heathrow T5, etc.).
• BEUMER Group BEUMER Group – provides the CrisBag® Self Bag Drop that integrates directly with a tote-based baggage system, allowing bags to be placed into individual totes right at check-in. This design minimizes transfer points and tracking gaps by loading each bag into a controlled tray at the drop point.
• Collins Aerospace Collins Aerospace (ARINC) – offers common-use self-service kiosks that handle check-in, boarding passes, and bag drop in one system.
• Embross Embross – with their Velocity Bag Drop (VBD) units, known for processing a bag in as few as 10 seconds.
• Daifuku Daifuku Airport Technologies – provides flexible self bag drop solutions that can be tailored to different airline/airport needs.
• Other notable providers include Scarabee/Daifuku, Glidepath/Alstef, and IER, often working in integration with airport check-in software systems.

Airlines and airports often collaborate on these implementations. For example, Lufthansa Lufthansa uses biometric-enabled self bag drops at hubs like Munich and Frankfurt (provided by Materna), and Delta Air Lines Global Services, LLC Delta Air Lines introduced fully self-service bag drops with facial recognition at Minneapolis (MSP) in the US.

Innovations & Emerging Trends: A major trend is the integration of:

• Biometric identity verification into self-service bag drops. This means a camera at the kiosk can verify the passenger’s face against their passport photo or a biometric database, allowing truly “touchless” bag drop. For instance, Spirit Airlines Spirit Airlines (USA) deployed biometric bag drop units at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Atlanta (ATL), where a passenger’s face is scanned and matched to check-in data, enhancing security and speed.
• Digital bag tags. These tags often use RFID or Bluetooth and are IATA-standard compliant. Airports are also trialing off-site and remote baggage check-in services: for example, Dubai and Hong Kong have introduced downtown check-in lounges where bags can be dropped off and tagged outside the airport, and some hotels (in Las Vegas, London, etc.) offer remote bag check for guests. All these efforts aim to expand the baggage check-in beyond the traditional counter.
• Visibility and tracking from the start. Airlines like Lufthansa send a digital baggage receipt and allow passengers to track their bag via mobile app in real-time from check-in to arrival. This includes notifying which conveyor belt the bag will arrive on and enabling missing bag claims through the app. Delta Air Lines has invested in RFID bag tags system-wide and a mobile tracking feature, achieving a 99.9% tracking success rate and significantly reducing mishandled. Such transparency builds passenger trust and reduces anxiety.

2. Baggage Handling Systems (Sorting & In-House Transport)

Overview of Systems & Processes: After check-in, a bag enters the airport’s Baggage Handling System (BHS) – an elaborate network of conveyors, scanners, and sorters that move luggage from the check-in area to the appropriate departure gate/plane, and vice versa for arriving bags. Traditional BHS rely on high-speed conveyor belts and diverters: bags travel along a predetermined path, get scanned for identification (barcode or RFID) and security, and are automatically sorted. Modern large airports use high-throughput sortation like tilt-tray or cross-belt sorters and often an Individual Carrier System (ICS) – where each bag rides in a tray or tote with an RFID tag for tracking. This ensures 100% traceability of each piece throughout the journey. BHS also include Early Bag Storage (EBS) systems (automated warehouses or dynamic loops that store bags checked in early and release them just in time for flight loading) and sophisticated control software to route bags optimally. A well-designed BHS is crucial for quick connections and mishandling reduction; it must route transfer bags to connecting flights, send rush bags on expedited paths, and handle peak loads reliably (especially at hubs). For perspective, major hubs like Dubai International (DXB) have BHS networks stretching over 130–160 km of conveyor tracks capable of processing 15,000 bags per hour, and the new Istanbul Airport (IST) has ~42 km of conveyors and advanced ICS making it one of the largest baggage systems globally.

Leading Companies & Solutions: The baggage system market is dominated by a few specialist engineering firms:

• Vanderlande Vanderlande (part of Toyota) – A global leader whose systems handle billions of bags yearly. They supply high-speed conveyor/sorter systems and ICS (e.g. TUBTRAX). Vanderlande’s VIBES software optimizes baggage routing. Notable projects: London Heathrow, Atlanta Hartsfield, Istanbul IST (entire system), and many European hubs. Vanderlande also introduced “Baggage 4.0” vision emphasizing digitalization and predictive maintenance.
• Siemens Logistics Siemens Logistics (formerly part of Siemens, now owned by MHP) – Longtime provider of baggage systems. Siemens supplied the massive DXB Terminal 3 system with 90 km of conveyors and many U.S. airport systems (e.g. Los Angeles, JFK). They offer the VarioTray ICS and software like BagIQ.
• BEUMER Group BEUMER Group (Crisplant) – Known for the CrisBag® tote-based system and high-speed tilt-tray sorters. BEUMER’s CrisBag is used in airports like Singapore Changi, Montreal, and soon Abu Dhabi, enabling each bag to be in a RFID-tracked tote from check-in to make-up. They also provide integrated bag drop (as noted) and baggage warehouse solutions. The new Abu Dhabi Midfield Terminal features a CrisBag system with capacity ~19,000 bags/hour.
• Daifuku Daifuku Airport Technologies – This Japanese firm (via acquisitions of BCS Group, Logan Teleflex) provides baggage systems especially in Asia-Pacific and North America (e.g. Vancouver, Auckland).
• Alstef Group Alstef Group (merged with Glidepath) – Supplies baggage systems to mid-sized airports and developed the baggage handling for Paris Orly’s recent upgrades, among others.
• Other players include Fives (Italy/France), Pteris and CIMC (China, for Chinese airports), and a number of regional integrators. Many systems also rely on IT from IPS a SITA company SITA or Amadeus for baggage message handling and reconciliation between airline departure control systems and the BHS controls.

Innovations & Emerging Trends: Automation in baggage handling is rapidly advancing on multiple fronts:

• Robotics for Sorting & Loading: Traditional BHS still require human labor at certain points, notably the “make-up” area where bags are loaded into containers or carts for transport to the aircraft. New robotic systems aim to automate this. Prototype robotic arms can pick up bags and load Unit Load Devices (ULDs) or carts, using AI-driven vision to grasp bags of different shapes. Advances in perception and grippers have improved robots’ ability to handle suitcases vs duffel bags, resulting in higher fill rates in ULDs with minimal human help. One operator can oversee multiple robotic cells, reducing manual lifting needs. For example, Amsterdam Royal Schiphol Group Schiphol and Rotterdam airports trialed robotic loading; BEUMER has showcased an automated ULD Container Unloader that can empty arriving luggage containers at up to 900 bags/hour, eliminating manual unloading and improving throughput. Such robots, once fully mature, will transform the labor-intensive portions of baggage handling.
• Autonomous Vehicles within BHS: In addition to fixed conveyors, airports are exploring autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) to move bags. Vanderlande’s FLEET is a system of free-roaming robotic carts, each carrying a single bag, that navigate the baggage hall to deliver bags to their correct chute or make-up position. This “swarm” approach offers flexibility, vehicles can be added or removed to scale with demand. FLEET was piloted in live operation at Rotterdam The Hague Airport Rotterdam The Hague Airport and tested at Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) for transfer bag recheck, where it moved ~450 bags/hour. Such mobile systems replace some fixed conveyors with more easily reconfigurable fleets of robots. Similarly, some airports use automated guided carts to store and retrieve bags in an EBS warehouse.
• RFID and IoT Tracking: Following International Air Transport Association (IATA) IATA’s Resolution 753 mandate to track bags at key points, RFID adoption has grown. RFID-tagged bags can be scanned automatically on conveyors without line-of-sight, improving tracking accuracy. Many new systems (Orlando Terminal C, Hong Kong, Qatar) have RFID readers throughout. This real-time data allows airports and airlines to know exactly where each bag is in the system and share that with passengers. IoT sensors on baggage handling equipment (conveyors, motors) are also used to monitor performance and predict maintenance needs. For example, vibration or temperature sensors on motors can predict a failure before it causes a breakdown, allowing proactive maintenance – an application of predictive maintenance that reduces downtime.
• Artificial Intelligence & Data Analytics: AI is being applied to optimize baggage operations. Machine learning algorithms analyze historical baggage flow to predict peaks and adjust sortation routes or staffing accordingly. AI-based routing in the BHS can dynamically find the fastest path for a bag, especially if part of the system is congested or down. AI also powers computer vision systems that can automatically recognize a bag’s orientation or detect if a bag is misloaded on a cart. These technologies help increase reliability and throughput by making the system “smarter” and more adaptive.
• Digital Twins & Simulation: Airports are leveraging digital twin technology to mirror their baggage operations in a virtual model. A digital twin of the BHS allows operators to simulate scenarios (e.g., a sudden influx of bags from late connections) and test how the system would cope, or to optimize system configuration. For instance, Hong Kong International and Vancouver International have explored digital twins for baggage handling to improve decision-making. The tech provider Aurrigo Aurrigo even creates a 3D digital twin of the entire airport tarmac and baggage routes to train and guide its autonomous vehicles. Digital simulations also played a key role in designing systems like Abu Dhabi’s baggage facility (using BIM and 3D models for clash detection).

3. Security Screening (Automated Hold Baggage Screening)

Overview of Processes: Every checked bag must undergo security screening to detect any prohibited or dangerous items (explosives, etc.) before being loaded onto an aircraft. In modern airports, this is handled by in-line automated systems known as Hold Baggage Screening (HBS). As bags travel through the BHS conveyors, they pass through multi-level screening: typically Level 1 is an automated X-ray or CT (Computed Tomography) scanner that assesses the bag. If the image shows a potential threat or is unclear, the bag is automatically diverted to Level 2 where a human operator reviews detailed images (often remotely). If suspicion remains, Level 3 involves physical inspection by security staff (bag pulled off and opened). The goal is to clear bags without human intervention unless absolutely necessary.

Technology-wise, there has been a shift from traditional X-ray machines to CT-based Explosive Detection Systems (EDS) for hold baggage. CT scanners create 3D images of bag contents and can automatically detect explosives with high accuracy. They are now mandated in many jurisdictions (e.g., all hold baggage in EU and US must be screened by certified EDS machines meeting stringent standards). A single modern CT bag scanner (like Smiths HI-SCAN 10080 XCT or Rapiscan RTT110) can screen upwards of 1,500 bags per hour. Airports typically have multiple in parallel to handle peak loads, with conveyance systems routing bags through these scanners seamlessly.

Leading Screening Technology Providers: The market for HBS machines is specialized:

• Smiths Detection Smiths Detection – Provides the HI-SCAN series and CTX 9800 (acquired from Morpho), widely used in Europe and Asia. Smiths’ CT scanners are in airports like Frankfurt, Singapore, and many US airports, offering high throughput and 3D imagery.
• Rapiscan Systems Rapiscan Systems – Offers the RTT® (Real Time Tomography) scanner which provides full 3D imaging in a faster belt-fed design (used in Heathrow, Amsterdam, etc.). Rapiscan also supplies conventional X-ray systems and has software for automatic threat recognition.
• Leidos Australia Leidos (L3 Security & Detection) – L3’s EDS machines (e.g. ProVision and other CT models) are common in the US (since TSA originally deployed L3’s systems post-9/11). Leidos continues to innovate on CT tech after acquiring L3’s security division.
• NUCTECH COMPANY LIMITED Nuctech (China) – Supplies many Asian and some European airports with EDS machines and also offers innovative dual-energy CTs. Beijing and other Chinese hubs use Nuctech HBS equipment.
• Other players: IDSS is an emerging provider of next-gen CT; Analogic (for cabin baggage CT but potentially into hold baggage). The market is fairly consolidated due to heavy certification requirements by authorities.

Innovations & Trends: Security screening is benefiting from AI and integration:

• AI for Automated Threat Detection: Vendors are incorporating machine learning algorithms to better identify threats (explosives, firearms) in scanner images. This reduces false alarms and speeds up Level 1 clears. AI can also assist Level 2 operators by highlighting suspect areas on the 3D image. For instance, systems are being trained to detect 3D shapes or chemical signatures of explosives with greater accuracy, augmenting the standard detection algorithms. Some regulators are testing allowing automatic clear or reject decisions by AI without human review if confidence is extremely high. This could eventually lead to fully automated clearance of most bags, with humans only handling flagged ones.
• Networking and Remote Screening: Many airports have moved to remote screening centers where security operators can view bag X-ray/CT images from multiple checkpoints or terminals. This allows better resource utilization (centralized image processing) and even cross-airport load balancing. A bag image from one airport could theoretically be analyzed by certified staff in another location if needed. This trend is supported by high-bandwidth image transfer and ensures that if one airport is busy, another’s screeners could assist, improving efficiency.
• Enhanced Scanning for Special Cases: New scanning techniques, like neutron or electromagnetic scanning, are being researched for air cargo and could eventually trickle to baggage for even more detection capabilities. However, CT is the mainstay for now.
• Integration with BHS and Data: The screening machines are tightly integrated into the BHS control system. If a bag is flagged, the system automatically sends it to an inspection station. This integration is improving, for example, if a bag is deemed a “clear”, the system might send it on a faster route to make up for lost time, or if it’s “reject”, it sends to a safe room. Also, each bag’s security status is data-linked to its tag ID. This is strategically important: if a passenger doesn’t board the flight, their bag (unaccompanied) must be found and removed. Automated systems assist by knowing exactly where the bag is and retrieving it quickly from the line.

Overall, the security screening stage is largely hidden from passengers but critically important. The trend is toward faster, more automated detection with minimal human intervention, to both improve security and keep bags flowing quickly. Airports that invest in state-of-the-art screening (CT, AI, etc.) can both meet security mandates and avoid creating a baggage bottleneck, which is strategically vital for on-time flight departures.

4. Airside Transportation & Aircraft Loading

Overview of Processes: Once bags are sorted and screened, they need to be transported airside (onto the tarmac) and loaded onto the aircraft. Traditionally, this is done by baggage handlers: they consolidate bags in carts or containers, tow them with diesel baggage tractors from the baggage hall to the aircraft stand, and then manually load them into the aircraft hold. This stage involves multiple steps, staging the bags by flight, driving them across often busy aprons, and then lifting them into the plane’s belly (for narrow-body aircraft, handlers physically stack bags in the hold; for wide-bodies, bags often ride in ULD containers that are loaded with a high-loader). It’s labor-intensive and prone to delays or injuries if not managed well. Automation and tech are now making inroads to transform how bags get to/from the planes.

Leading Solutions & Companies: Key innovations focus on autonomous vehicles (self-driving baggage tractors) and robotic loading aids:

• Autonomous Baggage Tractors: Several companies have developed driverless baggage tugs. One leading player is Aurrigo Aurrigo (UK), which makes the Auto-Dolly and Auto-DollyTug®. The Auto-Dolly is a self-driving electric cart that can carry a ULD or loose bags; the Auto-DollyTug can also tow conventional baggage carts and even has variants with robotic arms to load/unload containers autonomously. Aurrigo’s vehicles navigate using GPS, LIDAR, and a detailed “digital twin” map of the airport. They have been trialed at major airports like Singapore Changi, London Heathrow and Gatwick, and Orlando, and are set for deployment at Cincinnati (CVG) and others in 2024. Another is TLD TLD / EasyMile EasyMile with the TractEasy TractEasy autonomous tow tractor. TractEasy has done pilots at Paris Charles de Gaulle (with Air France Air France), Lyon Airport, Kansai Japan, and Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP) USA, operating at Level 4 autonomy (no driver at all) while towing baggage dollies. Charlatte Autonom Charlatte Autonom (a venture of Charlatte Manutention and Navya) tested an autonomous baggage tractor in real conditions at Toulouse Airport in 2019 and is working with Frankfurt Airport for a trial. These autonomous tugs use sensor fusion to detect obstacles and have been tuned to operate in the busy and safety-critical airside environment.
• Robotics for Aircraft Loading: The physical loading of bags into the aircraft hold is also seeing automation attempts. One approach is automated conveyors and loaders that can adjust and feed bags into the hold. Another is robotic arms or lift devices that can work inside the cargo hold. This is a tougher challenge due to the confined space and varying aircraft types. Sarcos Robotics Sarcos Robotics, for example, has been developing robotic solutions to aid with loading: they demonstrated a robotic system (partly funded by Delta Air Lines) to load and unload bags from narrow-body aircraft without human entry, essentially a conveyor with a robotic manipulator that can place bags in the plane’s hold. This is still in prototype phase. On the simpler end, airports are employing exoskeleton suits or mechanical lift aids for baggage workers. Delta tested the Sarcos Guardian XO exoskeleton for handlers to lift heavy bags with less effort, and airports like Eindhoven have invested in powered lifting aids to reduce injury and strain for baggage staff. While not “automation” in the sense of replacing a worker, these technologies augment human capability and improve safety an important strategic aspect given chronic labor shortages in ground handling.
• Other Transport Tech: Some airports use baggage transport conveyors or tunnels to move bags longer distances airside (e.g., between terminals). For instance, at Heathrow, an underground conveyor link moves transfer bags across the airport to avoid vehicle transport delays. Another concept is using airport baggage vehicles in a platooning mode, a manned tug leading a convoy of unmanned follower tugs, which some ground handling companies have piloted as a step toward full autonomy.

Innovations & Trends:

• Fleet Management Systems: Alongside autonomous vehicles, software platforms manage and optimize their movement. Aurrigo’s Auto-Connect software, for example, schedules and dispatches autonomous dollies to flights, coordinating multiple vehicles. This integrates with airport operational databases (flight times, gate info) to ensure the robots are at the right place at the right time. Efficient scheduling is crucial to reap the benefits of autonomy.
• Electrical and Eco-Friendly GSE: Virtually all autonomous baggage movers are electric, which aligns with airports’ sustainability goals. Even aside from autonomy, airports are electrifying their ground service equipment (GSE). This reduces emissions on the ramp and can lower operating costs. So the future ramp may feature electric, self-driving baggage trains quietly zipping around in place of diesel tugs.
• Safety and Integration: A key area of focus is how autonomous vehicles interact with crew, other vehicles, and aircraft. Trials have shown success in geofenced areas. For instance, British Airways British Airways/IAG reported that a single Auto-DollyTug at Gatwick could reduce manual labor by 90% for that task and that the controlled airport environment is ideal for autonomy. Ensuring these robots can detect aircraft, move in various weather, and handle airport traffic rules is part of ongoing testing (Changi’s trials specifically tested operations in heavy rain, tropical heat).
• ULD Handling Automation: For wide-body flights, bags are loaded in ULD containers. Companies like Aurrigo have demonstrated robotic arms on their tugs that can automatically load and unload ULDs. This means one autonomous vehicle could potentially fetch a container, drive it to the plane, and transfer it onto a loader without human intervention – a concept close to fully automated “underwing” operations. Changi Airport’s Phase 2 trials with Aurrigo are explicitly to validate an end-to-end autonomous process for servicing a wide-body aircraft’s baggage.

The airside transport stage historically relied on manpower and coordination; now the shift is toward a “smart apron” where driverless vehicles and connected systems orchestrate baggage movement. This could yield faster aircraft turnarounds and safer working conditions. British Airways has noted that speeding up baggage offloading and delivery can greatly improve the passenger experience (no more “lotto time at the carousel” as Aurrigo’s CEO quipped). It also helps airlines take back more control of baggage reliability, which ultimately boosts customer satisfaction.

5. Baggage Reclaim & Delivery

Overview of Processes: The final leg of the bag’s journey is delivering it back to the passenger at their destination. When a flight lands, checked bags are offloaded from the aircraft hold. If ULD containers were used, they are brought to the baggage hall and unloaded; if loose loaded, bags are taken off the plane onto baggage carts. The bags then go through the arrival sortation: usually a short conveyor system that feeds the baggage reclaim carousels (the rotating belts in the arrivals hall where passengers pick up their luggage). Passengers identify and collect their bags, and exit (often showing their baggage claim tag to security on exit in some countries). This stage has traditionally seen less automation than others, but that is changing with new innovations to expedite and secure the return of baggage.

Leading Equipment & Solutions: The core equipment here are baggage reclaim carousel systems, supplied by the same BHS companies (Vanderlande, BEUMER, etc.). Carousel designs (flat plate, oval, etc.) haven’t drastically changed, but newer systems are quieter, more energy-efficient, and can handle varying bag sizes. One specialized solution is automated ULD unloaders, such as BEUMER’s Automated Container Unloader mentioned earlier, which can tip out bags from a ULD container and feed them directly onto a conveyor. This saves time compared to workers manually pulling bags out of containers. Some airports also use robotic arms to grab bags from a cart and place them on the belt, although this is not yet common.

On the software side, arrival baggage tracking is a focus. Systems now can track that a bag has been loaded onto the arrival belt and even notify the passenger. The rise of smartphone apps means many travelers get updates like “Your bag is now on Belt 5” as they walk to claim. This is enabled by tracking technologies (barcode/RFID scans at the unload point) and integration with airline mobile apps. IPS a SITA company SITA reports that as of 2023, 32% of passengers used mobile updates for bag collection status, a number growing each year.

Innovations & Trends:

• Digital Notifications and Accountability: Airlines are deploying services to keep passengers informed about their bags in real-time. For example, if a bag is still in transit or delayed, the passenger might receive an alert before even reaching the carousel. SITA’s new WorldTracer Auto-Notify system automatically informs travelers if their bag didn’t make the flight, initiating recovery processes sooner. This level of communication is a game-changer for customer service – turning what used to be a frustrating mystery (“Where’s my bag?”) into a more transparent process. Strategically, it also reduces crowds at lost baggage counters and spreads out demand for assistance.
• Security and Anti-Theft Measures: While rare, baggage claim areas can be vulnerable to theft or mix-ups (someone taking the wrong black suitcase). To counter this, some airports have experimented with scanning or checks at the exit. In Asia, it’s common for staff to match the tag stub to the bag before allowing exit. Automation could assist here, for instance, an RFID reader at the exit could alert if a bag is leaving without an accompanying passenger tag match. In China, technologies like face recognition have been contemplated to ensure the person taking a bag is indeed its owner (by matching to who checked it in), though privacy concerns abound. Another approach is CCTV analytics: using cameras on the carousel with computer vision to detect if someone grabs multiple bags suspiciously. These are emerging concepts to make the reclaim stage more secure.
• Robotic Baggage Delivery: Looking a bit into the future, some airports have trialed baggage delivery robots or services that bypass the carousel entirely. A robot or dedicated courier service can take your bag from the airport and deliver it to your hotel or home. For instance, a pilot in Japan involved robots that could bring bags to a meeting point in the arrivals hall. While not widespread, it caters to a vision of a seamless journey where you don’t wait by a belt at all. In a business/first class context, airlines or airports might offer to deliver your bags so you can leave immediately upon landing. This is more a service innovation than pure automation, but it leverages the improved tracking and handling infrastructure.
• Sustainability & Efficiency: Baggage reclaim halls are also seeing eco-friendly initiatives, such as carousels made of recyclable materials and sensors that only run the belt when bags are present (to save power). Some airports use tote return systems to automatically send empty baggage tubs back to the drop-off side, hidden behind walls in reclaim areas. Others ensure that heavy baggage containers are moved with electric vehicles even within the hall to cut emissions.

Concluding Thoughts

The vision of a fully automated, seamlessly orchestrated baggage journey is becoming reality at leading airports. From the moment you drop your bag into a kiosk to the moment it slides out to you at your destination, a web of technologies now ensures that bag is tracked, screened, and handled with minimal human touches. The benefits are clear: fewer lost bags, faster connections, less strain on workers, and more satisfied travelers. Yet achieving this requires significant coordination between airports (who manage infrastructure), airlines (who own the passenger relationship and schedules), and technology providers (who deliver innovation and upkeep). Those stakeholders that invest wisely and collaborate closely are likely to set the standard for baggage operations, an area that, while invisible when everything goes right, is absolutely critical to the air travel industry’s efficiency and reputation. As passenger volumes grow and expectations rise, automation in baggage handling transforms from a competitive advantage to a necessity. The journey of a checked bag is now as digital and data-driven as the journey of the passenger, and continuous improvement in this sphere will be a hallmark of air travel’s modernization in the coming years.

Sources:

• SITA Baggage IT Insights 2024 – trends in baggage handling and tracking
• International Airport Review – “Baggage trends shaping the aviation industry” (H. Miles, Mar 2025)
• Future Travel Experience – Biometric self-service bag drop process
• BEUMER Group – CrisBag Self Bag Drop system description
• Passenger Terminal Today – DFW trial of Vanderlande FLEET autonomous baggage vehicles
• The Telegraph (UK) – British Airways deploying Aurrigo autonomous baggage tugs (Mar 2024)
• Aurrigo Press Release (May 2024) – Trials of Auto-DollyTug at Changi
• Airport Technology / RFID Journal – Hong Kong RFID baggage tagging case (2008)
• Supply Chain Dive – Delta Airlines RFID baggage tracking
• International Airport Review – Automation and robotics in baggage handling (examples: Gatwick, CVG, Eindhoven)
• International Airport Review – CT security screening upgrades (UK and EU airports)
• dnata (Dubai) – Baggage handling statistics at DXB and industry reports on baggage system sizes.

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