Connect with us

Airport

SITA and Lufthansa automate bag reflight operations to reduce mishandled bag costs

SITA and Lufthansa automate bag reflight operations to reduce mishandled bag costs

SITA and Lufthansa have joined forces to explore ways to reduce mishandled baggage costs and improve the passenger experience by digitally automating baggage re-flight operations. Mishandled baggage between two flight connections is a major pain point for the industry, costing it billions of dollars each year.

U.S. airlines with highest percentage on-time arrivals and Cancellations(Opens in a new browser tab)

Advertisement

The ability to address the issue of staff shortages and baggage mishandling is of paramount importance post-pandemic. Aviation lost around 2.3 million jobs during COVID, while recording US$2.2 billion in the cost of mishandled baggage in 2022 – including over 4 million bags mishandled during transfer.

SITA’s WorldTracer Auto Reflight reflights bags digitally, without any human intervention, reducing cost and inconvenience while contributing to industry efforts towards sustainability and CO2 net-zero targets. With the successful delivery of bags being a top contributor to the passenger experience, it is critical to respond efficiently, keeping passengers informed and in control when things go wrong. SITA’s auto reflight solution proactively notifies passengers on arrival of any delay with their bag, while collecting delivery details and ultimately allowing the passenger to bypass the baggage hall.

Advertisement

After a number of joint developments with Lufthansa already (including WorldTracer Desktop and WorldTracer Passenger Self Services), the SITA automated baggage reflighting solution represents a joint innovation project to further automate and optimize Lufthansa’s Baggage Management Services.

Advertisement

Airport

This airport maintains a 30-year record of no lost luggage

This airport maintains a 30-year record of no lost luggage

Step into world of seamless travel, where every journey begins and ends with peace of mind. For three decades, this airport has upheld a remarkable record: not a single piece of luggage lost.

In the fast-paced world of air travel, where delays and mishaps can cause frustration and inconvenience, Kansai Airport in Japan stands out as a beacon of efficiency and reliability.

Advertisement

Recently crowned the best airport for baggage handling in the prestigious 2024 Skytrax World Airport Awards, Kansai Airport has achieved a remarkable feat – maintaining a flawless record of zero lost luggage since its inauguration in 1994.

Kansai Airport’s baggage handling operations can be attributed to its meticulous and streamlined processes. Upon the arrival of a flight, luggage is swiftly sorted in the airport’s state-of-the-art sorting room. Each piece is then carefully placed on the conveyor belt in the precise order dictated by luggage tags.

Advertisement

Crucially, airport staff meticulously check each item to ensure nothing is left behind in the transport box. Remarkably, this entire process is completed within a mere 12 minutes of the plane touching down.

In addition to its remarkable efficiency, Kansai Airport prides itself on its commitment to innovation and continuous improvement. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and implementing best practices in baggage handling, the airport has consistently raised the bar for industry standards.

Advertisement

While Singapore Changi Airport and Bahrain International Airport secured second and third place, respectively, demonstrating their own commitment to excellence in customer service. Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, ranked eighth in the survey, further highlights the Asian region’s dominance in providing exceptional baggage handling services.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Airport

Dubai Initiates ‘World’s Largest’ Airport Terminal Project

Dubai Initiates 'World's Largest' Airport Terminal Project
Image:HH Sheikh Mohammed

Dubai, known for its audacious projects and visionary ambitions, has set its sights on yet another groundbreaking endeavor.

On a Sunday announcement, the Gulf emirate revealed the commencement of construction on a colossal new terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport. With an estimated cost soaring close to $35 billion, this undertaking signals Dubai’s unwavering commitment to spearheading innovation and redefining the global aviation landscape.

Advertisement

The visionary behind this monumental project, His Highness, proclaimed that this future hub will surpass all precedents, becoming “the world’s largest” airport. Envisioned to dwarf the current Dubai International Airport by fivefold, it will boast a staggering 400 aircraft gates and feature a constellation of five parallel runways.

But more than just sheer size, the new terminal will serve as a crucible for pioneering aviation technologies, heralding a new era of efficiency and connectivity in air transport. Dubai’s ambitions extend beyond mere infrastructure.

Advertisement

As His Highness elaborated, the airport will catalyze the emergence of an entire city, a bustling metropolis in Dubai South. Anticipated to accommodate housing for a million residents, this urban nexus will magnetize leading companies in logistics and air transport, cementing Dubai’s status as a global economic powerhouse.

The master plan for the Airport of the Future unfolds across an expansive canvas, spanning a sprawling area of 70 square kilometers. With an ultimate capacity surpassing 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo per annum, it charts a trajectory for sustained growth and prosperity in Dubai’s aviation sector over the next four decades.

Advertisement

This visionary project is not just a testament to Dubai’s ambition; it is a cornerstone of its economic agenda. Integral to Dubai’s economic fabric, the new airport will fuel job creation and residential demand, with projections estimating requirements for over a million individuals living and working in Dubai South.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Aerospace

India is set to build a central command for the Air Traffic Control system, called ISHAN

India is set to build a central command for the Air Traffic Control system, called ISHAN
Coutresy : Boeing planes

India’s air traffic growth has led to increased responsibilities for air traffic control. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is considering centralizing air traffic control for aircraft, dividing the country into four regions. The goal is to consolidate India’s segmented airspace into a single entity to improve air traffic management (ATM) efficiency, safety, and smoothness.

Recently, the AAI invited expressions of interest to develop a detailed project report for the Indian Single Sky Harmonized Air Traffic Management (ISHAN) initiative in Nagpur. Under this plan, air traffic controllers in Nagpur would handle domestic flights flying above 25,000 feet, eliminating the need for coordination among controllers in different regions.

Advertisement

For domestic regional flights operating above 25,000 feet, control would shift to the central command in Nagpur. This consolidation aims to enhance airline operations, increase flight handling capacity, and reduce congestion and flight times for passengers.

Currently, the AAI provides ATM services over Indian airspace and adjoining oceanic areas, covering over 2.8 million square nautical miles. This airspace is divided into four flight information regions (FIRs) in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai, along with a sub-FIR in Guwahati.

Advertisement

FIRs are responsible for providing air traffic services, including weather information, visibility, and search and rescue assistance. The proposed unification under the ISHAN initiative aligns with the projected growth of the aviation industry, which anticipates a doubling of domestic passenger traffic by 2030.

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Advertisement

Trending