IT investment boosts baggage handling at Heathrow

News at Heathrow 09/08/2010

Government against mixed-mode operation at Heathrow : 2010 : Tour firms knock off 75% as 1.5 million holidays unsold

Fewer passengers suffer ‘baggage misconnect’ since systems were upgraded.

Airport operator BAA is celebrating a fall in ‘baggage misconnect’ rates at Heathrow since it began a series of improvements to baggage-handling systems. Over the six months covered in BAA’s latest report, the baggage misconnect rate improved by 15 per cent. BAA also says the rate has improved by more than 50 per cent since 2008.

BAA’s results for the six months to 30 June show that the baggage-misconnect rate at Heathrow fell from 20 per 1,000 passengers to 17 per 1,000. The airport operator pointed out that this improvement was managed, despite extended periods of poor weather over the winter.

In the period covered by the report, 30.1 million passengers used Heathrow Airport. Based on the rates in the report, 511,700 passengers suffered from baggage misconnect. In the same period last year, 624,000 had their baggage go missing.

BAA says the huge improvements over the last couple of years result from several factors. The launch of Terminal 5 provided a much-needed boost in capacity. Re-arranging airlines based on alliances means bags have less ground to cover. Real-time reporting improves the ability of management to monitor and control baggage handling.

BAA is investing almost a billion pounds in upgrading the existing baggage handling technology and infrastructure at Heathrow. By the year 2014, the baggage systems of all terminals will be connected by tunnels. Terminal 2 will also get a new system.

Government against mixed-mode operation at Heathrow : 2010 : Tour firms knock off 75% as 1.5 million holidays unsold

Parking at Heathrow

SAVE up to 50% at Heathrow Airport Car Parks. Pre-book to guarantee your heathrow parking booking at the best price. Select your dates below & click for a quote. Pre-book to guarantee the best prices for your booking at Heathrow.

LGW