RFID inlays

Hong Kong SAR – A trial project using RFID tags for luggage tracking began recently in Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport. According to a report from IDG, published in Network World Asia (www.networksasia.net), radio chips are being affixed to passengers’ luggage as part of an experiment aimed at reducing incidents of lost baggage.

The six-month trial project will involve tagging around 50,000 bags per month with RFID tags for passengers traveling or transferring on Emirates between Dubai and Heathrow.

The RFID tags, which are being attached by airport personnel in specially equipped Emirates check-in counters, contain data that includes the passenger’s name and route. Scanners can read the RFID tags from a short distance, as the luggage passes through Heathrow’s baggage system. When the passengers reach their destinations, some of them will receive text messages informing them of the baggage reclaim belt.

Although higher-capacity RFID chips can contain more data, these will not be utilized for the trial project. The airport, however, will continue to use its current barcode tags together with the RFID tags.