MUMBAI, INDIA: Come 2016, and 36 airports managed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), will have an automated baggage management system.
AAI took the initiative to reduce waiting period for fliers and minimize disruption. SITA has been chosen as the technology implementation partner.
The software will help AAI to collate data of the passengers who have boarded and along with the bags loaded, thereby highlighting any mismatch in reports that are produced in line with international guidelines, SITA said in a press release.
The software will proactively monitor the baggage process, identify and resolve problems before a flight departs. Besides, SITA will also improve operational decision-making through by providing real-time information on mobile devices used by staff.
According to the release, the class baggage reconciliation system, SITA BagManager , has already been implemented at Chennai and Kolkata airports, which together receive 15 million bags per year.
Under the system, more than 100 handheld devices have been issued to workers at the two airports which allow them to scan baggage tags anywhere and provide information on the location of each and every bag.
In 2014, mishandled bags cost the global air transport industry a total of $2.4 billion, according to SITA.
"SITA's baggage management solution is in use at more than 150 airports worldwide and is proven to cut the rate of baggage mishandling by as much as a fifth. The successful implementation at Kolkata and Chennai are the first in this major phased rollout for the AAI," SITA vice president for India and subcontinent Maneesh Jaikrishna said.