"The new system will mean not only increased security of luggage for passengers but also will save time of the registration for the flight. First of all, there will be 10 self-service kiosks in the departure hall, in which a passenger will be able to register for the flight himself and register his luggage - i. e. print the stick-on suitcase label and put the luggage on the collection path and go for the security screening.
In addition, the system will be fully automated, so all luggage of travelers will be thoroughly tested by special X-ray equipment. The equipment will quickly sort the luggage according to flight directions, thus reducing the risk for passengers to lose their suitcase due to human error", – Justinas Stepšys, the Head of Vilnius Airport, has presented the pending changes, emphasizing that all registered baggage will also be checked by fully automated explosive detection equipment meeting the latest security requirements.
According to the head of the capital's air gate, the new system will also allow to increase the baggage throughput more than twice – this indicator will increase from the current 700 units of baggage per hour to 1,500. According to J. Stepšys, the major world airports have already introduced similar baggage registration and transportation systems, but for smaller regional airports this is a modern innovation that will make it possible to exploit the existing infrastructure much more efficiently.
J. Stepšys also reminded that after the reconstruction of the Vilnius Airport terminal passengers and visitors will see even more innovations. In addition to a large and comfortable aviation security screening area with automated boarding card verification system a modern waiting area will be created in the new hall, a travel store, a pharmacy, a cafe, an information center, and a currency exchange bureau will invite everyone to pay a visit before the flight, and the luggage storage services will be provided.
Public procurement tender is announced for the introduction and maintenance of a new system for a five-year warranty period. The contractor of the system, which will meet the latest recommendations of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), is expected to be selected by the end of 2018 and the innovation should be fully implemented in 2021 upon completion of the reconstruction of the departure terminal.
About Vilnius Airport
Vilnius Airport belongs to the Lithuanian airport network that manages three airports in Vilnius, Kaunas and Palanga. During 2017, they serviced 5.2 million passengers and 55 thousand flights. During the winter season, 15 airlines organize flights in 65 directions to 56 cities in 26 countries. Based on data of the Airports Council International (ACI Europe), Lithuanian Airports contribute to the Lithuania’s GDP by 2.5 percent.
