Emirates joins BAA in baggage tracking trial

14 February 2008

Dubai: The world's busiest international airport is evaluating radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to improve baggage tracking, using Motorola RFID readers as part of a joint project between BAA and Emirates airline.

In an important trial of the tracking technology, BAA, owner and operator of Heathrow Airport, and Emirates will deploy RFID readers at key points along the journey of luggage belonging to passengers travelling the Emirates route from Heathrow to Dubai - from check-in desk to carousel.

As part of the trial, Motorola XR480 Fixed RFID readers have been installed at Heathrow Terminal 3 to read tags on luggage entering and leaving the airport.

This trial will be an important demonstration of the inter-operability of diverse RFID solutions as it will showcase how the Motorola RFID solution integrates with a variety of components from other vendors that have been incorporated into the system outside the UK.

BAA is already a Motorola customer, deploying its Symbol-branded bar code scanners widely throughout Heathrow in established baggage-reconciliation applications.

Vic Sheppard, Emirates vice-president for the UK and Ireland, said: "This trial enables us to embrace the latest technology for the benefit of our customers. The volume of baggage processed at the airports is increasing, with more people around the world flying each year. We look at innovation and using new baggage handling and tracking systems, to help give that extra level of reassurance for our customers."

The addition of XR480 RFID readers will give BAA more depth of functionality, as it will allow the company to track baggage during parts of its transport where a clear 'line of sight' to a bar code is not possible. As a result BAA will be able to monitor, sort and locate luggage at every stage of its journey.

The trial enables us to embrace the latest technology for the benefit of our customers."

Vic Sheppard , Emirates Vice-president for the UK and Ireland