Heathrow starting small, thinking big

Heathrow airport is going to run RFID baggage tracking systems for one small airline on one specific route. I think this is the perfect way to start a project like this; we at DCC are always trying to get our RFID clients to pick one small way to get going with RFID, then branch out into larger projects. In the case of Heathrow, they are deploying RFID readers at key points along the journey of luggage belonging to passengers travelling the Emirates Airlines route from Heathrow to Dubai - from check-in desk to carousel.

Heathrow will use Motorola XR480 Fixed RFID readers in Terminal 3 to read tags on luggage entering and leaving the airport. In the past, Heathrow has used bar codes to track luggage, which has been a problem when bags do not have the correct line of sight with the reader. RFID readers will be a great help, because they can still function when a bag has tipped on its side, or when a stray strap has fallen across the tag.