The Pune International Airport (PIA) has installed two inline baggage systems in the basement of the New Integrated Terminal Building (NITB) to improve the pre-embarkation security check time.
According to airport officials, the inline baggage systems have a screening capacity of 1,200 to 1,400 bags per hour to enhance flyer convenience during check-in and boarding, particularly for baggage destined for the aircraft’s cargo.
Airport director Santosh Dhoke said the installation has significantly streamlined passenger movement before boarding. “Earlier, when passengers had to go through the manual process, it took approximately half an hour to screen registered luggage. Now, with these machines, the processing time has been reduced to around ten minutes (a reduction of around 70 per cent), complying with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) guidelines,” he said.
“At major airports like Delhi and Mumbai, registered baggage doesn’t need to go through manual X-ray screening machines because these airports are fully equipped with inline baggage systems,” he added.
Two types of machines are used to screen luggage: the first for registered or checked baggage that goes into the cargo hold and the second for handbags carried onboard. The screening machines are often hidden from public view as they operate behind the scenes.
Dhoke further noted that the Pune airport has 10 baggage X-ray machines used by the CISF at security checkpoints. With the addition of the two inline baggage systems, the airport has significantly enhanced its operational efficiency.
“Each X-ray baggage machine operated by CISF personnel has the capacity to scan around 135 bags per hour. At Pune Airport, this translates to handling approximately 1,350 bags per hour, which corresponds to 1,350 passengers,” he said.
The Pune airport has recorded a peak hour capacity of 1,200 passengers passing through the scanning process in one hour.
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