Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is shifting from barcode scanning to RFID to improve baggage handling.
George Schmitt and Co. will implement the RFID project using industry standard Gen 2 tags and UHF integrated circuits from Alien Technology.
George Everhart, CEO of Alien Technology, announced the project during his keynote address at the RFID Journal Live convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.
HKIA is considered one of the world's busiest airports in terms of international passenger and cargo movement.
In 2007, HKIA handled 47.8 million passengers and 3.7 million tons of cargo with the base airlines of Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, Hong Kong Express Airways, Hong Kong Airlines and Air Hong Kong.
Use of RFID in baggage handling may generate US$760 million per year in industry savings, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
It helps reduce the current number of 20 pieces of mishandled baggage per 1000 passengers each year, due to improved read rates of baggage using RFID as compared to barcode.