Rockwell Collins’ Self-Service Airport Solutions at Luton

The UK’s London Luton Airport (LLA) will now see streamlined and simplified baggage check-in processes, thanks to the recent deployment of Rockwell Collins’ touchless T-Series bag drop installation – the first of its kind in the UK.

The self-service bag drop solution operates in a two-step process:

• The passenger uses a reference number to print a boarding pass, then weighs the baggage and prints out a baggage tag.
• Once the tag is affixed, the passenger then moves to the self-service kiosk to deposit the baggage, which then continues through the baggage handling system.

The touchless, new system automatically detects the tag, ensures the baggage is the correct weight and size, before dispatching the luggage – all without further intervention from the passenger. In addition, the new kiosks are equipped with enhancements to assist visually-impaired passengers, thus reducing further the reliance on dedicated personnel.

Kim Kennedy, the senior manager of passenger services at LLA, said, ‘We’re investing £110 million to transform the passenger experience at London Luton Airport. Rockwell Collins’ new auto-bag drop terminals are just one example of this investment.’

LLA personnel have already seen improvements in passenger experience, in addition to increased efficiency in passenger processing speeds.

Kristian Hanslip, Rockwell Collins’ training and delivery manager, said, ‘On day one, it was fantastic to see the positive reactions of the passengers and staff. Because the system is so simple to use, the ground staff is able to be more customer-centric and proactive. The airport’s customers were amazed at the transformation.’

The new system is already being prepared for improvements by Rockwell Collins, such as the capability to accept payments for additional services. Paul Hickox, head of Airport Systems Sales for Rockwell Collins, understands that each airport has different requirements, and said, ‘Because baggage handling is different depending on the airline and the airport, we work closely with our customers to ensure we create the right approach. Our overall goal is to help improve each passenger’s travel experience.’

For more on this story and to find out about more Rockwell Collins news click here.