Baggage Handling: Airline Baggage Handling Systems

Airline baggage systems in the last 20 yr have progressed from simple conveyors to sophisticated electronically controlled storage and sorting devices. Installed costs for large volume systems range from $75,000 for manual types to $800,000 for automatic types. Unit costs per passenger vary from 75 cents to 90 cents. Airlines have tried conveyors, chutes, carts, and elevators to replace manpower, save space, and save time. Baggage claiming procedures vary from carts to hand load counters to mechanically fed counters to rotating carrousels. Research and experimentation continue in an attempt to find less costly means of handling larger volumes with improved passenger convenience.