What Is Included in a Turnkey Baggage Handling System Project?
- Jun 10
- 3 min read
When airports procure a new baggage handling system, they are rarely buying just equipment. A complete BHS project spans multiple phases — from the initial design and engineering through to manufacturing, delivery, installation, commissioning, and long-term after-sales support.
Understanding what a turnkey baggage handling system project actually includes helps airport procurement teams ask the right questions, compare suppliers accurately, and avoid the hidden costs that come with incomplete scope definitions.
What Does a Turnkey Baggage Handling System Include?
In airport baggage handling, a turnkey project means a single supplier takes responsibility for the entire scope — design, manufacturing, delivery, installation, and commissioning — and hands over a fully operational system to the airport.
The airport does not need to coordinate between multiple contractors or manage separate contracts for equipment supply, civil works interfaces, and software integration. One contract covers everything from the first conveyor to the final testing and acceptance run.
For regional and medium-sized airports, a turnkey approach with a direct manufacturer is typically the most efficient and cost-effective procurement model.
Phase 1 — Design and engineering
Every turnkey BHS project begins with a detailed design phase. This includes:
Layout design based on terminal architecture and passenger flow projections
Equipment selection — conveyor types, diverter specifications, carousel geometry, security screening integration points
Compliance review against IATA standards, PGDS requirements, and applicable local regulations
Interface coordination with civil works, electrical supply, and building management systems
For new terminal builds, the design phase often runs in parallel with construction, requiring close coordination between the BHS supplier and the general contractor.
Phase 2 — In-house manufacturing
A turnkey BHS supplier that manufactures its own equipment produces all components — check-in conveyors, collecting conveyors, diverters, make-up carousels, reclaim carousels, tray return systems, and control panels — in its own factory.
In-house manufacturing allows for:
Custom dimensions and configurations adapted to each terminal's specific constraints
Factory pre-testing of individual units and complete system sections before delivery
Quality control at every production stage, with full traceability
Faster response to design changes during the project
Phase 3 — Delivery and logistics
Equipment delivery for a BHS project requires careful coordination with the construction schedule. Components are typically delivered in installation sequence to minimise on-site storage requirements.
For international projects, this includes export packaging, customs documentation, and logistics planning across multiple shipments. A supplier with experience in international delivery will have established processes for each of these steps.
Phase 4 — Installation
BHS installation is carried out by specialist teams with direct knowledge of the equipment. For a turnkey project delivered by the manufacturer, the installation team has worked with the same conveyor designs throughout production — reducing the risk of on-site modifications and rework.
Installation scope typically includes:
Mechanical assembly of all conveyor sections, diverters, and carousels
Electrical wiring and connection to the airport's power supply
Integration with security screening equipment (EDS, X-ray, ATR tag readers)
SCADA system installation and configuration
PLC programming and control architecture setup
Phase 5 — Commissioning and testing
Commissioning is the phase where the installed system is tested under operational conditions. This includes:
Individual equipment testing — each conveyor, diverter, and carousel tested separately
System integration testing — full end-to-end bag flow from check-in induction to make-up carousel
Security screening integration testing — bag routing through L1, L2, and L3 screening levels
SCADA and positive tracking verification — every bag tracked from induction to aircraft
Load testing — system run at peak capacity to verify throughput ratings
Acceptance testing — final sign-off run with airport operations team present
Phase 6 — Training and handover
Before handover, the airport's operations and maintenance teams receive training on:
Daily operations procedures
Fault identification and first-line response
Preventive maintenance schedules
SCADA system operation and reporting
A complete handover package includes as-built drawings, equipment manuals, spare parts recommendations, and maintenance schedules.
Phase 7 — After-sales support
A turnkey project does not end at handover. Ongoing after-sales support includes:
Spare parts supply directly from the manufacturer's inventory
Remote diagnostics and technical support
On-site service visits for preventive maintenance or fault resolution
System upgrades and capacity expansions as passenger volumes grow
For airports in regions where specialist BHS expertise is limited locally, a manufacturer with international service capabilities is a significant advantage.
What CITCOnveyors delivers
CITCOnveyors manages the full turnkey baggage handling system project scope — from initial design through to commissioning and after-sales support — for airports across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas.
All equipment is designed and manufactured in-house at the SELF TRUST factory in Iași, Romania, and factory pre-tested before delivery. Installation and commissioning are carried out by our own specialist teams.
Recent turnkey BHS projects include Maramureș International Airport (Baia Mare), Târgu Mureș Transilvania International Airport, Kuwait International Airport, and Tallinn Airport.
