Aalborg Airport Debuts Baggage-Handling System With High-Memory RFID Tags

The airport's baggage-handlers are pleased with the new system, Svendsen says, since more luggage is sorted properly than with the bar-code system. The workers, therefore, have far fewer bags to identify manually.

Aalborg Airport spent 1.5 million Danish kroner ($246,000) for RFID hardware, software and integration services, as well as the sorter allocation system, which integrates the bag-sorting technology with the RFID system and coordinates how the baggage system runs.

Lyngsoe installed two Times-7 SlimLine A6020 RFID portals, which can interrogate bag tags from all angles, since each portal features eight reader antennas. The rectangular metal stand that holds the antennas surrounds the baggage belt completely. Two antennas are mounted on each side of the portal, two are mounted on top and two are mounted below the baggage belt. The two antennas below the belt are encapsulated in a plastic-like material to keep them from being damaged during the belt's operation.
Svendsen says he is pleased with the improved baggage system, but that he looks forward to a more widespread use of RFID tags on luggage by other airports that will make it possible to interrogate tags on inbound bags and improve luggage flow. Once airports are widely utilizing RFID baggage tags and sharing related data, he expects to receive better information regarding late luggage headed to Aalborg. As a tardy plane containing the baggage arrives, the airport could then use a handheld interrogator to easily and quickly locate a specific bag, in order to speed up the handling process.

"That will all come," Svendsen states. "Right now, we're glad that our passengers are equipped with the latest technology."