Trolley technology keeps passengers moving as Dubai Airport prepares for record-breaking arrivals

State-of-the-art radio technology pioneered in Denmark will ensure trolleys are always at hand at the new Terminal 3 building which will be operational in the first half of 2008.

It is a vital part of plans to ease the flow of up to 60 million passengers per year by 2010 as the US $4.5 billion Dubai International Airport Expansion Programme sends capacity soaring.

Danish IT specialists Lyngsoe Systems have won a contract to install Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags in 4,000 passenger trolleys to be employed in the terminal. The project, carried out in co-operation with trolley supplier Wanzl, will allow airport operators to keep track of trolleys and make sure stocks are kept topped up in all areas.

Lyngsoe Systems, which is the world's leading provider of IT solutions for monitoring and automating processes in complex logistics chains, will be among an international line up of more than 500 exhibitors at the Airport Show. The exhibition, organised by Streamline Marketing Group, takes place at Airport Expo Dubai and opens tomorrow (May 28).

"The challenge for Dubai International Airport is to manage the availability of trolleys at the right time and in the right locations to ensure supreme passenger service," said Frank Lund, Sales Manager for the company's Airport Division. "The size of this challenge is emphasised by the fact that trolleys are available in the check-in area, at the curb-side, in the 3-level parking areas, in the baggage reclaim areas and in the services areas - an area equal to more than 35 football pitches. To carry out this task manually would demand a great deal of manpower."

Linked to the flight information system, Lyngsoe System's Catellae TM Trolley Management System will track every unit and predict the number of trolleys needed at different times in different locations.

The US $4.5 billion Dubai International Airport Expansion involves the construction of Terminal 3, Concourse 2 and 3 for the exclusive use of Emirates airline. Terminal 3 and Concourse 2 will be operational within the first half of 2008, while Concourse 3 is expected to be ready in 2009.

The Airport Show, now in its seventh year, takes place under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Department of Civil Aviation, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, and Chairman of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise.

It attracts the leading airport and aviation suppliers keen to capitalize on the recent unprecedented growth in the aviation and airport development sectors in the Middle East, India and African region.