Calgary International Airport is to pilot a self bag drop trial in the fall of 2014.
Calgary International Airport (YYC) has plans to test four self bag drop kiosks this fall and, if all goes well, the technology could be used more extensively in a new international terminal due to open in 2015.
Paul Lawrence, executive director of terminal integration says “As a visitor, basically you’ll come up, scan your boarding pass . . . it will already know that you’re checking in one or two or whatever number of bags you’re checking in,” he said. “You’ll then put your bag onto the belt on the machine and . . . (it) will then weigh the bag and check the dimensions of the bag. If everything checks out then it will send the bag on its way and you’ll be free to go.”
Similar systems have already be unveiled at other Canadian metropolitan airports in Montreal and Toronto.
In July 2014, Halifax’s Stanfield International Airport became the first in North America to offer self bag drop for all of its passengers. The full roll-out at that airport cost $45 million.
The initial test terminals at Calgary International would be reserved solely for domestic flights through both WestJet and Air Canada.
The system will only aid those keeping their luggage under the specified weight — overweight items will still have to be checked by an attendant.
