• The ‘Primary Sorter Replacement’ programme will see the Asian airport, the fifth busiest worldwide, equipped with Leonardo’s advanced MBHS® (Multi-sorting Baggage Handling System) technology
• Hong Kong International Airport earned an excellent reputation for baggage delivery as over 74.7 million passengers travelled through its terminals last year. This upgrade will maintain this status
• Leonardo has attained a leadership position in the international baggage handling market having equipped airports across Europe, the Middle East and Asia

Leonardo’s sorting technology has been selected for the Terminal 1 Baggage Handling System at Hong Kong International Airport. The airport’s ‘Primary Sorter Replacement’ programme will see Leonardo’s advanced MBHS® (Multi-sorting Baggage Handling System) technology replace existing sets of legacy tilt-tray primary sorters and all associated hardware and software. The Company is responsible for overall project management and will design, manufacture, supply, deliver, install, test and commission the new cross-belt primary sorters and all associated hardware and software. 

In 2018 the Asian hub served over 74.7 million passengers as they visited 220 destinations, earning an excellent reputation for ensuring the safe onward delivery of baggage. Hong Kong International won the Airport of the Year 2018 award (International Airport Review) and the Best Airport in China 2018 award (Business Traveller China Awards), in part due to its adoption of advanced new technologies. To ensure that the baggage handling system in Terminal 1 continues to meet the exacting standards of the airport in future, Leonardo will supply four MBHS® cross-belt sorters, 18 induction units and 14 barcode reading stations with Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) capabilities. 

Leonardo will seamlessly integrate the new cross-belt sorting technology with existing airport IT systems. Unique features will include variable speed control for optimising baggage throughput, the ability to dynamically re-centre the position of baggage on the sorter, controlled loading and unloading trajectories and the ability to handle all types of baggage including ‘out of gauge’ (oversized or bulky) items. 

Leonardo is an expert in baggage handling systems integration, a key element of which is the Company’s state-of-the-art MBHS® technology. The Company has attained a leadership position in the international baggage handling systems market having equipped airports including Rome Fiumicino, Zurich, Geneva, Paris Orly, Lyon, Mulhouse, Athens and others in Europe, as well as Kuwait International Airport and elsewhere in the Middle East and Asia. MBHS® cross-belt sorter is certified and approved by BNP Associates Inc., a major air transportation consultancy firm.