To address these challenges, the industry must focus on transforming the handler processes—a critical, yet largely unchanged part of the baggage handling process.
This part of the process begins when baggage exits the automated baggage handling system (BHS). From there, bags are manually loaded into containers or carts, transported across the apron and finally placed into the aircraft hold. Despite advances elsewhere in airport automation, this phase remains labour-intensive and physically demanding, with processes that have changed little over the past 70 years.
One of the reasons for this limited progress lies in the traditional airport business model. A complex operational landscape, involving airports, airlines, ground-handling agents and BHS providers, is central to this model.
Stronger alignment and collaboration across these stakeholders are essential to enable meaningful innovation and unlock the full potential of automation.
At Vanderlande, our vision is to deliver fully automated, intelligent and adaptive baggage handling operations, covering both departure and inbound processes. This means reimagining the complete baggage journey, from check-in through to aircraft loading and unloading, to achieve more efficient, resilient and flexible baggage operations with less mishandled bags.
By extending automation beyond the BHS into ground handling activities, airports can move towards truly end-to-end baggage automation, creating a seamless flow of baggage that supports both airport performance and passenger satisfaction.
Achieving this vision requires more than advanced technologies alone. Predictable baggage flows are a key foundation for automation, helping create the conditions for more efficient and reliable operations.
Automation of the handler processes offers several key advantages:
Achieving this vision requires airports to embrace a new generation of technologies, including robotics, autonomous vehicles, control software and bag assessment using artificial intelligence. These innovations enable smarter decision-making and more responsive operations, while also reducing dependency on manual labour.
On the departure side, robotic loading solutions such as BAGLOAD enable fully automated loading of bags into containers. Designed to support different process configurations, the robotic solution can be deployed in highly productive batch-driven operations or in processes where bags are automatically sorted and loaded into multiple containers in parallel.
Crucially, the inbound process can also be automated. Solutions such as VarioTip enable the controlled unloading of unit load devices (ULDs), singulating bags and feeding them directly into the BHS. This creates a stable, high-throughput inbound flow while significantly reducing physical strain on operators.
Logistics control software coordinates loading, unloading and container movements across the process, while tracking bags throughout their journey and supporting more predictable, data-driven operations.
As passenger numbers continue to rise, the need for scalable, future-ready baggage handling solutions becomes increasingly urgent. By focusing on the automation of the handler processes, the aviation industry can take a decisive step towards more efficient, resilient and sustainable operations.
In the next blog in this series, we outline how Vanderlande plans to turn this vision into reality and deliver tangible value for airports, airlines and passengers alike.
Let’s explore how airports and airlines can realise automation of handler processes, using smarter process design and the deployment of advanced technologies.
Explore the benefits of automating handler processes, including improved safety, labour efficiency and scalable airport operations with robotic loading and autonomous container management.
Would you like to know more about our solutions for the automation of the handler process? Ask our experts!