SIS delivers exceptional consultancy and project management for Airport Baggage Handling Systems, from design to implementation to maintenance.

SIS is one of the leading UK design, implementation and maintenance engineers for airport baggage handling systems. Based in the West Midlands, our specialist project management and installation teams are ideally placed to service all airports across the UK and Europe. Our expert knowledge of baggage handling system design and installation, including automated hold baggage screening (HBS) systems delivers a turnkey solution.

A typical airport baggage handling system (BHS) is an integrated network of conveyors, sortation equipment, screening machines, storage buffers and control software designed to move thousands of bags per hour reliably and within tight operational timeframes.

On the departure side, the system collects bags from check-in desks, transports them through hold baggage screening (HBS), routes accepted bags to the correct make-up unit for their flight, and stores early bags in the Early Baggage Storage (EBS) area until they’re needed. On the arrival side, the system receives bags from the apron, transports them to the terminal, and delivers them to the correct reclaim carousel.

Every element of a BHS — the conveyor specifications, the screening sequence, the sortation logic, the storage capacity — is designed around the specific demands of the airport: peak hour throughput, aircraft turnaround targets, terminal layout, hold baggage screening standards, and the airline mix using the facility. Two airports of similar passenger volume can have very different baggage handling system designs.

Designing a baggage handling system is never a case of applying a standard template. Every airport — regional or international, single terminal or multi-terminal, low-cost or hub — presents a different set of constraints. The role of the baggage handling designers is to translate operational requirements into a technical specification that performs reliably for the next 15–20 years.

The most important considerations in any airport baggage handling design include:

A well-designed baggage conveyor system isn’t simply a collection of belts — it’s a carefully balanced flow network where every transfer, merge and divert is sized to the loads it will carry across its working life. Mistakes made at the design stage become expensive to fix once concrete has been poured and ceilings closed in. This is why specialist baggage handling designers are involved from the earliest concept phase through to commissioning and post-handover support.

What is an airport baggage handling system?

An airport baggage handling system is the integrated network of conveyors, sortation equipment, screening machines and control software that moves passenger baggage through an airport — from check-in to aircraft hold on departure, and from aircraft to reclaim carousel on arrival. The term BHS is the industry abbreviation. A typical BHS at a regional airport may handle several thousand bags per hour at peak; at a major hub, tens of thousands.

What is hold baggage screening (HBS)?

Hold baggage screening is the security inspection of all checked bags before they are loaded onto an aircraft. Modern HBS uses automated X-ray and CT scanning equipment integrated into the baggage conveyor system, with cleared bags continuing automatically to sortation and rejected bags routed to manual inspection. The applicable screening standards are set by national regulators such as the UK Department for Transport.

What’s the difference between a baggage handling system and a conveyor system?

All baggage handling systems use conveyors, but not all conveyor systems are BHS. A general-purpose conveyor system might move parcels, products or materials in a warehouse or factory. A baggage handling system is a specialised conveyor solution designed around the particular requirements of airport operations — security screening integration, time-critical sortation, baggage tracking, aircraft turnaround windows, and operation in 24/7 environments where downtime has flight-disrupting consequences.

How long does an airport baggage handling system installation take?

Project timescales vary substantially depending on whether the work is a new build, a full system replacement, a partial upgrade, or a tactical extension. A small regional upgrade can be completed in weeks; a major terminal BHS replacement is typically a multi-year programme delivered in phases to maintain airport operations throughout. SIS works with each client to develop a project plan and installation phasing that minimises operational disruption.

Do you provide baggage handling system upgrades to existing airports?

Yes. Many of the projects SIS delivers are upgrades, extensions or modernisation of existing baggage handling systems — replacing legacy equipment, adding capacity, integrating new screening technology, or improving reliability. Upgrade work is technically demanding because it usually has to be carried out alongside live airport operations, often during overnight shifts. See our case studies for examples.

What maintenance does an airport baggage handling system require?

A BHS is a high-utilisation industrial system and needs structured maintenance to remain reliable. Typical maintenance includes planned preventative inspections, scheduled servicing of mechanical and electrical components (motors, drives, belts, photocells, controllers), monitoring of wear parts, and rapid-response support for any unplanned faults. SIS provides routine 3- or 6-monthly service plans and on-call support contracts.

Which airports does SIS Systems serve?

SIS is based in the West Midlands and serves airports across the UK and Europe. Projects have been delivered at Birmingham International, Manchester Airport Group, Teesside, Norwich, Edinburgh, Belfast International, Leeds Bradford, Bristol and London Stansted among others. Our case studies section has further detail on specific projects.