Advances in technology and process will change baggage build in coming years. One trend is greater automation: some airports are testing robotic loaders or automated guided vehicles that carry containers of bags to the plane, saving handlers from pushing heavy carts. In the future, we might see entire “smart” ULDs that dock themselves to a conveyor loader when the plane arrives.
Data-driven builds are also emerging. Right now, some airlines use tablets to scan bag tags during loading. Soon, build crews may wear augmented reality glasses that highlight the next bag to load or alert them if a bag doesn’t belong. Airlines could also use AI to optimize how bags are packed in the hold, balancing weight for fuel efficiency.
Passenger communication will improve too. With IATA’s new Baggage Roadmap, more real-time data will flow to passengers. You might get notified on your phone when your bag is actually loaded onto the plane (mirroring how you get a flight boarding notification). In fact, surveys show passengers strongly want tracking and electronic tagging – 74% want real-time updates and 67% are in favor of e-tags (nigeriannewsdirect.com). Knowing your bag made it on board gives peace of mind.
Finally, remote/alternative loading methods are in play. For example, some airlines allow bag drop at your destination home – your bag is built to a virtual manifest upon flight arrival and then delivered by courier. In that case, “build” includes a door-to-door step.
All these developments aim to make the final step as reliable and transparent as possible. The build of tomorrow will be safer, faster, and more in sync with passenger expectations, thanks to data and automation (nigeriannewsdirect.com).
