Bahrain International Airport (BIA) will introduce new baggage rules from October 1 to eliminate jams in baggage handling system that cause shutdowns, delays and inconvenience to passengers and airlines.
Items that will no longer be permitted include round and irregular-shaped bags, bags tied with loose rope or string, bags with loose straps, and blanket-wrapped bags.
Regular out-of-gauge and odd-shaped items such as baby strollers, bicycles, wheelchairs and golf bags will still be allowed, said BIA’s operator and managing body Bahrain Airport Company (BAC).
The company’s chief airport operations officer Michael Hohenberger said: “BAC is committed to running a friendly and efficient airport. It consistently works to ensure the highest levels of safety and security.
“The new rules will make the baggage handling system safer and more efficient for airport staff and also help them deliver a better service to passengers.”
Irregular-shaped items tied with rope or linen can easily snag on conveyor belts, causing system downtime and delaying the processing of baggage.
To avoid delays at the check-in area, BAC has advised passengers to use baggage with at least one flat surface, regular travel bags, or properly packed boxes with a flat surface.
The new rules also will play a major role in enhancing the efficiency of the state-of-the-art baggage handling system at BIA’s new passenger terminal.
The new system features an 8.6km conveyor belt and will be capable of processing up to 4,800 bags an hour. Baggage will be carried from the passenger terminals to the aircraft via advanced automated systems that provide a high level of protection against damage to or loss of passengers’ belongings.
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