Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Denver baggage system to be
abandoned
After 10 years and $600 million, airport goes back to reliable tugs
and carts
The baggage system at Denver's new airport was supposed to be
revolutionary, but it lost lots of bags, and as NBC's Roger O'Neil reports, the
system may soon be bagged.
NBC News
DENVER - It took 10 years and
at least $600 million to figure out big muscles, not computers, can best move
baggage.
The baggage system launched, chewed up, and spit out bags so
often, it became known as the “baggage system from hell.”
In 1994 and
1995, the baggage system kept Denver’s shiny new airport from opening. When it
finally did open, the baggage system didn’t.
It was such a colossal
failure every airline but United Airlines refused to use it. And now, finally
and miserably, even United is throwing in the towel.
On Labor Day,
the system of 300 computers directing carts along little railroad tracks in the
bowels of the airport will be shut off. The airport will go back to old reliable
tugs and carts.
“United wanted a system that would move hundreds of
thousands of bags quickly and efficiently,” says aviation consultant Michael
Boyd, “and basically, it couldn’t move a Barbie doll efficiently.”
The
airline, which wouldn’t talk on camera, told NBC News it will save $1
million in maintenance costs if it can get out of a $60 million-a-year equipment
lease it pays the airport, which runs until the year 2025.
People who
have tried to make the baggage system work say it’s always been a bunch of
scrap.
And that’s likely where it will end up — on the scrap pile
fetching somewhere between $60 and $90 a ton.
Attached
Photo:
'Baggage system from hell'
Click on the link to view the
video:
http://video.msn.com/video/p.htm?t=1&p=Source_Nightly%20News&i=f2223721-8bfb-4887-9f92-40decf467dc7&rf=
