Amadeus unveils high speed baggage reconciliation scheme

A cost-saving and high speed baggage reconciliation system is being developed by Amadeus for use by Icelandair.

A cost-saving and high speed baggage reconciliation system is being developed by Amadeus for use by Icelandair.

The Amadeus Airport BRS solution capable of offering real-time, automated loading, tracking and management of baggage.

As launch partner, Icelandair will deploy the solution from the summer on all its worldwide flights handled from its hub at Keflavik airport.

Integrated into the Amadeus Airport IT portfolio and the Altéa DCS platform, the system aims to simplify existing baggage processes as all data required to manage baggage will be available via an application interface located in Amadeus’s Data Centre. The interface will improve overall accuracy and speed, ensuring faster turnaround and departure times for flights.

Currently, the majority of ground handlers globally use teletype messages to manage all baggage processes. This involves sending numerous digital messages back and forth to process all baggage activities including checking in, tracking and loading baggage to an aircraft.

Amadeus Airport BRS reduces the dependency on using these messages, and provides “substantial” cost savings.

Icelandair groud operations vice president Ástþór Ingason said: “We have realised a remarkable vision with Amadeus’ baggage technology: not only will we save on the heavy costs of complex teletype messaging technology, but will gain baggage handling accuracy thanks to its full automation and real-time processing.

“The repercussions will be immediately felt by all stakeholders in our hub, including passengers, who can expect an improvement in punctuality and quicker baggage delivery, while ground handlers will have a much more efficient and user-friendly system.”

Amadeus head of airport IT John Jarrell said: “We are delighted to join forces in the development of this solution with our launch customer Icelandair.

“Our BRS solution will offer key baggage functionalities in a simple, plug-and-play application, enabling visible cost and time savings not just to Icelandair, but to the whole airport ecosystem.

“We are confident this will only be the beginning of the solution’s success and we look forward to developing it further with valuable feedback from our launch customer.”