Heathrow Airport has agreed a deal with BEUMER Group – a Strategic Partner of the FTE Baggage Innovation Working Group – to design and install a state-of-the-art new baggage system in Terminal 2. The project marks a pivotal stepping stone to unlock future developments at Heathrow and will allow the airport to switch off the 30-year-old Terminal 1 baggage system that currently supports Terminal 2.
Once complete, the system will be capable of handling 31,000 bags a day with improved resilience. New technology with greater data analytics means the upgrade will deliver a predictable and reliable service for customers.
“We know our customers want great and reliable journeys and that begins with having world-class facilities,” said Helen Elsby, Chief Solutions Officer, Heathrow Airport. “Installing a new dedicated baggage system in Terminal 2 is the next stage in our plans to breathe new life into the beating heart of Heathrow. Just like home renovations, we’re improving Heathrow room by room as we continue to build the airport of tomorrow, without interrupting the passengers of today.”
Importantly, the project allows the next phase of demolishing Terminal 1 – which closed to passengers in 2015 – as a new vision for the ‘heart of Heathrow’ takes a step closer to reality. The airport’s long term-plan will completely transform the Central Terminal Area with new buildings and infrastructure between the airport’s runways.
Once the full removal of Terminal 1 is completed, Terminal 2 will ultimately be extended to its full size, opening capacity to serve more passengers within the airport’s existing footprint.
“It is with great pleasure that we have received confirmation that Heathrow has chosen BEUMER Group as the strategic partner for the design and installation of the new baggage handling system in Terminal 2,” said Ronald Willems, Airport Director, BEUMER Group. “We’ve collaborated closely with Heathrow, in the true spirit of partnership, throughout these early stages of the process, and it’s a huge honour to be selected as a partner for the T2 project. We’ve put all our technological visions into the design of the new state-of-the-art baggage handling system, which will be based on our CrisBag® technology combined with our data analytics solution.”
BEUMER Group has been appointed to deliver the six-year project which will, in addition to passenger benefits, build on Heathrow’s continued commitment to give airline and ground handler partners a safe and efficient work environment, including improvements to support manual handling roles.
