Heathrow has announced plans to build a new dedicated baggage system at its Terminal 2.
The terminal currently uses a 30-year-old system housed within the airport’s Terminal 1, which closed to passengers in 2015 after 47 years of operation.
BEUMER Group has been appointed to deliver the six-year project, with the new system capable of handling 31,000 bags per day when complete.
Heathrow also said that “new technology with greater data analytics means the upgrade will deliver the predictable and reliable service customers need”.
The dedicated T2 baggage system will allow Heathrow to demolish what remains of T1, which will in turn enable the airport to move forward with what it is calling its “new vision for the ‘heart of Heathrow’”.
Long term plans will see more capacity added at T2 (also known as The Queen’s Terminal), and Heathrow’s Central Terminal Area will be transformed with new buildings and infrastructure between the airport’s runways.
The last few months have seen significant changes in the ownership and management of Heathrow, with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the Saudi-backed asset management firm Ardian signing a £2.4bn deal for the Spanish infrastructure giant Ferrovial’s 25 per cent stake in the airport.