New baggage screening system at Auckland Airport

New baggage screening system at Auckland Airport

From next week, bags loaded onto international flights at Auckland Airport will be security screened. This is in line with international security requirements to have 100 percent of international passenger luggage security screened by 1 January 2006.

The ‘back-of-house’ baggage screening project has taken over three years to plan and construct. To be able to install screening equipment in a live baggage handling system, the airport company built a duplicate facility, retro-fitted the security screening machines in the original baggage hall and has recently combined both systems together. The airport baggage system now has the ability to handle almost twice as many simultaneous flights as previously.

At the same time, the airport has installed a wi-fi network that is being used for operational purposes. Airline ground staff baggage handlers carry devices that allow them to trace luggage throughout its journey on the airport.

Auckland Airport chief executive Don Huse says that the baggage screening equipment will be able to process 50 pieces of luggage every minute, or around 3000 an hour, “The $30 million expansion of the baggage handling facilities at Auckland Airport will allow for greater capacity and an even greater focus on security.

“This is just one of a number of capacity and security enhancement projects underway at Auckland Airport. This particular project has been the result of close team work across the airport including Auckland International Airport Limited, the airlines and the Aviation Security Service.”

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