Automated baggage drop-off opens at Denver International Airport

In light of steadily growing passenger numbers, Denver International Airport (DEN) has automated the baggage drop-off process for its passengers as part of its comprehensive Great Hall refurbishment project. The German IT service provider Materna IPS (Intelligent Passenger Solutions) has installed 86 self-service baggage drop-off machines and, in collaboration with United Airlines and Southwest Airlines, launched the service at the beginning of November 2021. This marks the launch of the largest Self Bag Drop (SBD) installation in the US, now operational at Denver Airport.

Passenger numbers at Denver Airport are growing steadily – more than 73 million passengers are already expected in 2022. With immediate effect, 86 self-service machines on Level 6 of the airport are ensuring seamless automated baggage drop-off. The machines are also capable of handling excess baggage and special items, such as sports equipment. Fitted with additional counters, they are designed for hybrid use and can also be operated by ground staff when required. This gives the airport greater flexibility to respond to rising demand during peak times.

The new user-friendly baggage drop-off kiosks form part of the airport’s current Great Hall refurbishment project and blend seamlessly into the new design. The German IT service provider Materna IPS has developed the self-service systems in collaboration with several partners, tailoring them to Denver Airport’s requirements and equipping them with state-of-the-art technology. As part of ongoing operations, Materna IPS also hosts the kiosks in the AWS Cloud, which enables the monitoring of the systems’ availability and functionality.

Now the largest and most comprehensive hybrid self-bag-drop installation in the United States, it is already being used by Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. Within the first two weeks, over 35,000 items of luggage were processed using the new automated baggage drop-off system. The Materna IPS kiosks reduced the average transaction time for passengers by almost 50 per cent during this period.

With the implementation of this unique large-scale project at Denver Airport, Materna IPS is further consolidating its leading position in the US market and expanding its international growth. Gary McDonald, Managing Director of Materna IPS USA, emphasises: “Everyone involved feels honoured to be part of this incredible, groundbreaking and innovative project, which is revolutionising passenger processing in the US at one of the world’s busiest airports.”