Materna is equipping Tokyo Haneda Airport with technology for automated baggage drop-off

Tokyo International Airport (HANEDA) is the fourth-largest airport in the world. This rapidly growing Japanese airport is now utilising technology from Dortmund. Materna is supplying the airport with Self Bag Drop (SBD) machines, which allow passengers to check in their luggage independently and automatically. This enables the airport to increase its capacity for fast and convenient passenger handling.

The innovative SBD machines, which are connected to the airport’s baggage conveyor system, are located in the futuristic departure hall of the newly constructed Terminal 3. Together with its Japanese partner Toyo Kanetsu K.K. (TKK), Materna will install a total of 104 SBD machines in Terminals 2 and 3 by the end of the year. The first 68 machines are already being used by passengers travelling with Japan Airlines. All Nippon Airways, Delta Airlines and many other airlines will follow shortly.

Thanks to Materna’s SBD machines, passengers can check in their luggage easily and conveniently, thereby benefiting from significantly shorter waiting times. Features such as fully automated weighing and scanning, as well as the classification of luggage items, form part of the technology developed by Materna. The intuitive operation of the systems ensures that travellers can check in their luggage independently within seconds. To spare passengers the need to repeatedly present their identity documents at the airport, biometric facial recognition will also be used in future. The technology, based on the IATA One ID concept, enables the automatic identification of travellers at various touchpoints throughout the airport.

Dr Georg Oschmann, Head of the Materna IPS (Intelligent Passenger Solutions) division, comments: “We are honoured that Tokyo Airport has selected us for this major project. Haneda is the main gateway to and from Japan. Using the latest baggage handling technology, we have created a unique passenger experience at one of the world’s most modern airports. Our client is delighted with the new possibilities. This means HANEDA is well equipped to welcome international guests for the Summer Olympic Games, which will take place in Japan next year.”

The implementation of this major project at Tokyo International Airport (HANEDA) marks another milestone for Materna in expanding its international business with airports and airlines.