Baggage Handling System

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Baggage being loaded onto the conveyor of an Airbus A319 of easyJet.
Baggage being loaded onto the conveyor of an Airbus A319 of easyJet.

A Baggage Handling System (BHS) is a type of conveyor system installed in airports that transports checked luggage from ticket counters to areas where the bags can be loaded onto airplanes. A BHS also transports checked baggage coming off of airplanes to baggage claims or to an area where the bag can be loaded onto another airplane.

Although a BHS's primary function is the transportation of bags, a typical BHS will serve many other complex functions involved in making sure that a bag gets to the correct location in the airport. The process of identifying a bag, and the information associated with it, to make a decision on where the bag should be directed within the system is known as sortation.

In addition to sortation, a BHS typically also performs the following functions:

  • Detection of Bag Jams
  • Volume Regulation (to ensure that input points are controlled to avoid overloading system)
  • Load Balancing (to evenly distribute bag volume between conveyor sub-systems)
  • Bag Counting
  • Bag Tracking
  • Redirection of Bags via Pusher or Diverter
  • Merging of Conveyor Lines