Authorities at Chek Lap Kok airport have started installing an electronic baggage-tracking system that will be the single largest radio frequency identification (RFID) deployment in Asia.
Experts view the project as a catalyst for other air terminals in the region to test and adopt RFID, a technology which has been more widely engaged to improve the supply chain operations of large retailers and manufacturers.
United States-based RFID technology supplier Matrics and Japan's Marubeni Group, through local systems integrator unit Mighty Giant, were recently awarded a multimillion-dollar contract by the Airport Authority to install and support the baggage-tagging infrastructure. The system will be up and running by the end of the year.
The contract is for an initial three years, with two one-year extensions. Matrics supports the Electronic Product Code-based RFID standards being promoted by the EPCglobal trade association.
Matrics senior vice-president for corporate development John Shoemaker said the project would help beef up airport security and increase passenger satisfaction through faster location and collection of luggage.
'This is part of the airport's multimillion-dollar programme to deliver many types of hardware and software to create an effective integrated solution that will leverage existing bar-code technology and provide a transition plan for operational improvement on a continuous basis,' Mr Shoemaker said.