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Baggage handling - Articles and news items
Issue 5 2012 / 3 October 2012 /
Security continues to be a major issue within aviation. Passenger screening often gets the spotlight but the process of overseeing efficient cargo operations whilst maintaining tight security procedures is also an important aspect of the sector. Mark Glover from International Airport Review, spoke to Harald Zielinski, Chief Security Officer Cargo at Lufthansa Cargo Services and discussed the evolution of screening technology, cargo associations and the challenges that the industry may face in the future.
Mark Glover: How far has the development of security screening technology come within the industry?
Harald Zielinski: At the moment, I believe the development of air cargo security technology has probably reached its maximum potential and I do not expect any serious developments any time soon.
In some ways, the use of sniffer dogs is something that is still very much an option in terms of security processes, in particular the free-running dogs which are trained to detect explosive devices. (more…)
Issue 3 2012 / 1 June 2012 /
London Stansted Airport is delighted to be an official provider to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and is very proud to be one of the first to say ‘hello’ to the thousands of visitors and spectators arriving in the United Kingdom.
The Games are a unique and amazing opportunity to show what Britain has to offer and can provide a real boost to jobs, businesses and in-bound tourism. As the nearest major airport to the Olympic Village, Stansted has a key role in providing the best possible welcome to those coming to the Games from around the world as well as showcasing to potential new customers what the airport has to offer.
Flight movements
Stansted’s terminal and airfield have already been developed to serve 35 million passengers a year. We are currently serving around 18 million passengers a year, so we have the infrastructure and spare capacity that can be utilised during the Games to deal with the uplift in aircraft movements and passenger traffic. This includes the operational capability to accommodate the world’s largest planes, such as the Airbus A380. (more…)
Issue 2 2012 / 29 March 2012 /
Located in the suburb of Mascot, Sydney, Australia’s busiest airport, served over 26 million passengers in 2010 and is a primary hub for the country’s major airline Qantas and a secondary hub for Virgin Australia and Jetstar Airways.
Terminals
The airport has three main passenger terminals. Terminal 1, originally opened in 1970, replaced the old overseas passenger terminal and has been greatly expanded since. It is now known as the International terminal located at the airport’s north western sector and is made up of 30 gates and split into three levels serving arrivals, departures and airline offices.
In 2010, the terminal underwent a major $500 million redevelopment expanding shopping facilities, centralising custom operations and increasing the terminal floor space.
Terminal 2 is located in the north eastern section of the airport, incorporating 14 parking bays, aerobridges and a number of non-contact bays. Terminal 3 is the airport’s domestic terminal, also located in the north-eastern section. Extensions were made to this terminal during the late 1990s. Here there are 14 parking bays served by aerobridges. The terminal is also home to a ‘heritage collection’, dedicated to Qantas, that showcases the airline’s 90 years of service. The freight terminal is located north of Terminal 1 and is used for international freight operations. (more…)
Issue 2 2012 / 29 March 2012 /
Handling the traffic of an Olympic Games is a challenge for airports. Not only the volume but also the nature and the special needs of Olympic passengers pose problems for airports and call for special operational procedures to be set up. Having had experience of overseeing the baggage of teams and visitors during the 2004 Olympic Games at Athens’ Eleftherios Venizelos Airport and the 2010 Commonwealth Games at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Airport, I am aware of the challenges that London’s airports will have to deal with.
The biggest problem with the Olympic Games are the unbelievable peaks just before the Games are officially declared open and after the closing ceremony. While the inbound traffic is stretched out over the weeks before the games open, it is as though everybody waits for the closing ceremony to finish and then want to fly out immediately afterwards. This stretches the airport’s facilities and systems to their limits, especially considering the higher number of bagsper- passenger ratio during the Olympics. But it is also a chance for airports to prove their ability for pre-planning and handling such events smoothly.
The airport is not the centre of the Games but it is usually the first and last point for Olympic visitors. For Heathrow Airport especially, where passengers still associate it with the baggage fiasco that occurred at the opening of T5, it will now be the unique opportunity to prove to the world how efficient the airport terminal has become. (more…)
Issue 6 2011 / 8 December 2011 /
The handling of baggage is a very important activity within an airport. One of the main concerns of passengers (and carriers) is to be able to find their baggage on arrival. For this reason the mishandled baggage rate (that is baggage not loaded into the correct plane and shipped afterwards to the passenger) is one of the key performance indicators of the service provided to travellers. Since 2003, the introduction of X-ray screening within all baggage procedures has become even more complex.
It is useful to differentiate between the different types of baggage. They are:
- ‘Local baggage’ that is checked in at the airport
- ‘Transfer baggage’ arrives at an airport on one flight and leaves on another. This is divided into two sub-categories; ‘short connecting baggage’, defined by less than 45 minutes of transfer time, and ‘early baggage’ which incorporates more than three hours of transfer time
- ‘Bulky baggage’, OOG (Out Of Gauge), that exceeds normal dimensions that are not suitable to be sorted with normal conveyor belts
- ‘Special’ items that arrive at the plane with the passenger such as wheelchairs.
There are also implicating costs to consider. The re-routing and shipping of mishandled baggage to its final destination has an average cost of $100. In 2010, 2.44 billion passengers travelled around the world via international airports. In all, there were 29 million cases of mishandled baggage (12 per cent) at a related cost of $3 billion. Europe accounts for approximately 50 per cent of mishandled baggage worldwide and the United States, another 25 per cent (SITA Baggage Report 2011). (more…)
Airport news / 19 October 2011 /
The huge cost and inconvenience associated with lost and delayed baggage is behind an initiative that shines the spotlight on the baggage handling challenge.
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Airport news / 18 October 2011 /
Daifuku Co., Ltd. (Daifuku) is pleased to announce it has developed a new baggage handling system for airports called Baggage Tray System or BTSTM, which it will begin selling in October 2011.
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Issue 4 2011 / 8 August 2011 /
Our goal is to establish Bangalore International Airport as India’s leading airport in terms of quality and efficiency as well as setting a benchmark for other airports in India. The facility has been built and is being operated to international standards and is now a pioneer in the country due to the passenger experience that takes place on the ground.
Situated on a 4,000 acre plot of land, the airport currently has a 4,000 metre runway and a terminal building of around 70,000 square metres, the capacity of which is soon to be doubled. The airport handles nearly 12 million passengers annually and is growing at a rate of 18 per cent higher than the national average of 16 per cent. This makes Bangalore one of the busiest greenfield airports in the country. With a passenger profile of over 50 per cent that comprises business travellers, the airport has prided itself on efficiency and processes that make air travel a pleasant and hassle free experience. This customer orientated organisation is dedicated to meeting the needs of its passengers. Being a greenfield airport allows the ability and freedom to deploy state of the art, industry leading solutions. Given the airport’s location in the home of India’s formidable IT industry, it is entirely appropriate that this world-class airport remains at the forefront of cutting edge technology while ensuring efficiency and security. (more…)
Issue 2 2011 / 11 April 2011 /
When planning for a new BHS (Baggage Handling System) I recommend looking at your bags as if they were customers. Similar to a study on passenger profiles for a new terminal, an analysis of bags should be done. The dimensions, typical shapes, materials, per Pax ratio, even content will get you important results that have to be taken into consideration for planning a new BHS.
80% of the typical Middle East checked baggage would be out-of-gauge in Europe, so it is important to get the average profile and per route specifics of your baggage to cater for sufficient baggage handling facilities. (more…)
Airport news / 2 February 2011 /
Lyngsoe Systems is market leading in using RFID to improve baggage handling within the aviation industry.
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Airport news / 5 July 2010 /
BAA has appointed Siemens, the leading logistics expert for airports and airlines, as the Eastern Campus Baggage Integrator at Heathrow Airport. The scope of the wide portfolio of projects includes the design and installation of Baggage Handling Systems for the new Terminal 2, in addition to specific upgrades and enhancements within the Eastern Campus of Heathrow, which will all be completed by December 2013.
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Issue 3 2010 / 9 June 2010 /
An overwhelming increase in travellers has made it necessary for Aalborg Airport to grow its baggage handling capacity. Today the baggage sortation is handled manually, but in order to accommodate the increase in routes, it became clear that it needs to be automated. Aalborg Airport had two choices, either barcode or RFID technology. Aalborg Airport chose RFID because of the immediate advantages, but also because this technological platform is able to offer entirely new passenger services. Furthermore, RFID is supported by IATA. (more…)
Airport news / 28 March 2010 /
Firetrace International will be showcasing its full range of FIRETRACE® automatic fire detection and suppression systems at The Airport Show in Dubai that provides stand-alone, around-the-clock protection for electrical cabinets and enclosures upon which airports’ mission-critical services depend. FIRETRACE is the only UL [Underwriters Laboratories] listed and FM [Factory Mutual] approved tube-operated system in the world that is tested as an automatic fire detection and suppression system with, globally, 150,000 successfully completed installations.
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Issue 1 2010, Past issues / 22 February 2010 /
Changi Airport’s latest passenger handling facility, Terminal 3, opened in January 2008. Designed with spectacular architecture, lush natural light-filled ambience and superb efficiency, this ultra modern facility has an annual handling capacity of 22 million passengers, boosting the total handling capacity of Changi Airport to 70 million passengers per year. Currently, six airlines operate from Terminal 3, including the national carrier, Singapore Airlines which operates from both Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. (more…)
Issue 6 2009, Past issues / 11 December 2009 /
Located on the Atlantic coast, at the western edge of Europe, Lisbon Airport is the ideal gateway for the growing traffic between Brazil, Africa and Europe. In 2008, Lisbon Airport handled 13.6 million passengers, almost 145 thousand landings and take-offs and more than 80 thousand tonnes of cargo. A 380 million-Euro development plan is under way. Working alongside its partners to improve its quality standards, Lisbon Airport is currently expanding its capacity to the maximum – 40/42 flight operations per hour – providing passengers with greater comfort and airlines with greater efficiency.
Being a Star Alliance hub, with direct connections to more than 90 airports through 32 scheduled airlines and charter links to many others, Lisbon airport plays a vital role in facilitating local business and international trade. (more…)
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