British Airways to roll out robot baggage carriers at Gatwick Airport

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British Airways is planning to use driverless baggage tugs at Gatwick Airport to assist in the battle in opposition to workers shortages throughout the aviation trade.

The Telegraph reported that one of many self-driving robot baggage carriers could possibly be trialled by the International Consolidated Airlines Group – the dad or mum firm of BA – at Gatwick Airport as early as May.

If profitable, the machines, together with some outfitted with unloading arms, may approve the effectivity and turnaround time of baggage declare at airports.

Last July, the specter of floor dealing with strikes at Gatwick Airport over one of many busiest weekends of the yr was lifted after firms made improved pay presents to employees, however brief staffing continues.

The senior vice chairman for Airport Futures at IAG, Steve McGowan, stated that the baggage tugs require 90 per cent much less labour and tools from baggage dealing with workers.

McGowan advised The Telegraph: “IAG is exploring innovative ways to help its airlines run their operations as smoothly and punctually as possible.

“We are working with Aurrigo to trial the use of autonomous baggage trollies, to help support the work of the fantastic baggage teams at our group airlines and our ground handling partners.”

The Aurrigo machines priced between £100,000 and £250,000 have been examined at Changi Airport in Singapore since 2020 and have been beforehand trialled part-time at Heathrow Airport by BA.

Aurrigo expertise supplies the robots with a digital reproduction of an airport’s floorplan to allow them to study to overcome doable hazards and navigate direct routes to ferry baggage to aircrafts from the terminals.

Professor David Keene, Aurrigo’s chief government, stated that lengthy wait occasions and lacking baggage can “really dent the customer experience”.

He added: “Airlines want to be able to offer consistently good standards from a customer point of view as well. Often you’re in the airport building and it’s fantastic, you’re on the plane and it’s quite modern, but then you get off and it’s lotto time at the baggage carousel.”