"New PIT baggage check-in returns to pre-9/11 operations"

Saturday, January 15, 2005

New baggage check-in returns to pre-9/11 operations
By Jim Ritchie
The Pittsburgh (PA) Tribune-Review


Checking baggage at Pittsburgh International Airport has become less
burdensome for passengers of carriers other than US Airways. 

A new system put in service Wednesday eliminates the requirement that
passengers haul their baggage from airline-ticket counters to
security-scanning areas. The new system also permits the resumption of
curbside check-ins -- again, for passengers not flying on US Airways. 

The new system handles baggage for Air Canada, AirTran, America West,
American, ATA, Continental, Delta, Independence, Northwest, United and
USA3000. Hooters Air will begin service next month, with Southwest Airlines
arriving in May. 

A similar system to handle US Airways passengers' baggage is in the planning
stages. 

"We're among the first in the country to return to pre-9/11" baggage
procedures, said Kent George, executive director of the Allegheny County
Airport Authority. "It enhances security, but it also brings back the
customer service used prior to 9/11." 

Airlines employees once more are tagging baggage and putting it on conveyor
belts behind counters. Passengers walk directly to the security checkpoint. 

"The enhanced baggage-handling system automates the manual process of
screening all checked baggage for potential explosives," said Paul Hoback,
project manager for the airport authority. 

Security screening of baggage is done by U.S. Transportation Security
Administration personnel in a new 10,000-square-foot screening room in the
south end of the Landside Terminal. 

US Airways' luggage and ticketing operations are based in the north end of
the Landside Terminal. US Airways passengers will continue to carry their
checked baggage for screening by TSA personnel. 

The new system, which was tested during the past month, can handle up to
16,000 bags an hour. During testing over the busy Christmas holiday, the
system processed a maximum 921 bags per hour. 

The new system cost about $14.5 million, of which the authority paid about
$2 million. The TSA paid the remainder. 

The system has enough capacity to handle passenger growth, which the
authority anticipates -- especially with Southwest's arrival in May. 

For now, though, passenger traffic at the airport continues to slump. The
November report, issued Friday, showed a passenger count of 872,298, down 21
percent from November 2003. 

A large chunk of the decrease in passengers is attributed to US Airways'
shrinking operations. The bankrupt carrier's total was down 10.2 percent
from January through November 2004, compared to the same time period in
2003. Through November, about 9.5 million passengers flew US Airways at
Pittsburgh International, compared to 10.6 million in 2003. 

All other airlines showed a combined 17.9 percent increase through November.


"The positive thing is that other carriers are doing very well," George
said. "It just shows the strength of our market."


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