BHS — Baggage Handling System

BHS — Baggage Handling System

The BHS is one of the most complex pieces of airport infrastructure. It moves hundreds of thousands of bags per day through kilometres of conveyor belts, automated sorters and security screening equipment.

System Components

A modern BHS includes: check-in conveyor feeds from counters and SBD units; early baggage storage (EBS) for bags checked in well before departure; hold baggage screening (HBS) — mandatory security scanning; automated tag readers (ATR) — barcode or RFID scanners that track bag location; destination-coded vehicles (DCV) or linear tilt tray sorters that route bags to the correct make-up area; make-up carousels where ground staff load bags onto dollies; baggage claim carousels at the arrivals hall.

Security Integration

All checked baggage must pass through hold baggage screening (HBS) before being loaded. EU Regulation 2015/1998 and TSA requirements mandate specific screening standards. The BHS physically routes bags through screening equipment and, if a bag fails, diverts it to manual inspection.

BRS Integration

The BHS communicates with the BRS (Baggage Reconciliation System). Bag tracking data from the BHS confirms which bags have reached the make-up area; this feeds into the BRS passenger-baggage matching process.

IATA Resolution 753

IATA Resolution 753 requires airlines and airports to track baggage at four mandatory points in the journey: check-in, aircraft loading, transfer and arrival. BHS automated tag readers are the primary data capture mechanism for this tracking.