Baggage Handling System
UPDATED as of September 1, 2025
The first phase of PIT’s new state-of-the-art baggage handling system (BHS) began operations on July 22. Located in the International Arrivals corridor of Concourse C, this launch marked a momentous “first” in the Transformed PIT, improving the experience for passengers and airport employees. Issue 7 of the Get ready, PIT! highlights that first stage of BHS operation.
A significant feature of PIT’s transformation is our new Baggage Handling System (BHS), providing benefits to travelers and our team members. It’s another big example of how we’re leveraging the latest, state-of-the-art technology to redefine and deliver passenger and team member experiences, and includes:
- Faster speed: The new system will put PIT’s luggage-scan rate at or above industry best practice. Its high-tech ex-ray capabilities will be tested to operate at speeds faster than the current 30-year-old system, with the ability to throttle up and down quickly as needed. With additional baggage entry and exit points, the new system is designed to deliver standard luggage and oversized luggage faster to baggage claim. High-speed diverters will also re-route baggage around any jams that occur.
- Precision: The system has significantly more sensors at every point on the conveyor belt, allowing us to scan and track every bag during the entire length of its journey and identify and target jams faster and more efficiently—enabling more continuous operation of the higher speed conveyor belts.
- Sound reduction: The BHS features permanent magnet motors, which run more quietly than a typical conversation.
- Ergonomic and safety benefits: Any piece of baggage that is diverted for additional security inspection will be retrieved by one of more than 30 new robots, placed on a mobile inspection station, and taken to TSA without requiring any human lifting—saving time for our team members, airlines and travelers, and providing greater safety and ergonomic benefits for our partners. Delivering a better ergonomics solution for baggage handlers, the new make-up units (the structures used to load baggage off and on to the conveyor belts from planes) also will be at waist-level, instead of the current lower level that requires more bending to complete the same task.
- It’s smarter: With new scanning and data collection capabilities (from temperature of the motor to vibration readings), we’ll learn how to better predict any maintenance needs and adjust the system to address peak periods. A few areas of the BHS will require different maintenance procedures—such as maintaining conveyors above public spaces on the arrivals level—working with specifics of the building design. We’ll work with our subject matter experts to solve those challenges.
