BAA unveils grand baggage plans

Monday, 18th May 2009

One of the most frustrating things about flying is having to wait to claim baggage. Sometimes you have to watch and wait as other people’s suitcases and backpacks go round and round on the carousel, with no sign of your belongings in sight. What’s even worse is when you find out your bags are at another airport terminal, making it difficult and time consuming to get them back.

However, thanks to a new initiative, such frustrations may soon be a thing of the past. The world’s largest integrated baggage system is currently in progress, a £260 million tunnel underneath Heathrow Airport which will supply an essential connection between all of the airport’s terminals.

The tunnel, which will be just over two miles long, is set to be completed by 2012 and will allow Heathrow airport to handle an impressive 110 million bags each year. Constructed using state-of-the-art laser alignment technology, the concrete-lined tunnel will allow bags to travel on rails at speeds of up to 800 meters a minute.

The tunnel is part of a scheme by BAA to dramatically improve services at Heathrow and other UK airports over the next few years. Passengers should soon find that their bags are ready and waiting for them, no matter how quickly they pass through passport control.

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