The Independent Carrier System (ICS) is not just redefining what a baggage handling system can be; the technology also offers a high-speed and low-maintenance solution that connects terminals, buildings, and other key functions across the airport.
As airports evolve, they rarely expand according to a perfect master plan. Many airports have started with a single terminal or a couple of buildings, and then expanded over time – for example, adding another building to accommodate international departures or domestic flights.
In other cases, the airport itself remains compact, but separate buildings are constructed for baggage handling, screening procedures, and other functions within the airport infrastructure.
Decentralised airport layouts often translate into operational inefficiencies and excessive manual labour requirements that are common with non-integrated systems. Consequently, airports miss out on the operational savings they could achieve by integrating systems and buildings.
This is where the cart-based Independent Carrier System (ICS) offers a great solution: not by replacing existing systems, but by interconnecting them with a fast, scalable and cost-effective baggage handling solution.
The ICS is increasingly being deployed across the airport industry due to its efficiency in baggage handling, but the role of the cart-based ICS as a system-to-system connector can be equally valuable. This particular type of ICS has individual carts running on simple rails that require almost no maintenance, making the technology ideal for bridging long distances between terminals and buildings.
In one case, a two-kilometre cart-based ICS was installed as a tunnel connection between two separate airport terminals. As the rail system is more or less maintenance free – no sensors, no motors, no moving parts; only the steel rail with a power and data cable – this has proven an attractive solution for longer tunnel connections. Maintenance is done on the individual carts during normal operating hours in a service location outside of the tunnel, resulting in a no-fuss connection that quietly links critical operations behind airport scenes.
One of the key advantages for airports is that cart-based ICS can be installed as a connector between existing systems that are already in place – there’s no need to rip out conveyors or reorganise the entire operation. Instead, airports that have conventional conveyors installed can integrate the cart-based ICS technology to bridge gaps, whether that’s between terminals, baggage halls, or a remote building housing baggage storage. And because cart-based ICS handles belt-to-belt transfers with ease, it can become a natural extension of the conveyor technology already in place.
As a result, there are real benefits for operational efficiency. Instead of manually moving bags across great distances from one terminal to another, or relying on baggage handlers to sort and deliver bags between buildings, airports can let the baggage handling system handle the connection automatically – with 100% track and trace for each piece of luggage.
In the long run, this optimisation of tasks and processes can result in significant operational savings. Especially in situations where baggage volumes are up to 4,800 bags/h., the cart-based ICS is cost-effective.
The cart-based ICS is also a system designed for complex building layouts. It can be routed through tunnels, fitted along gradients with small radii, or installed below ceilings – helping airports overcome physical constraints with efficiency.
The ICS operational versatility allows direction switching and reuse of infrastructure: an airport with three lines, for instance, can run two outbound flows in the morning and switch to two inbound flows in the afternoon – all while using the same rail.
The flexibility of cart-based ICS extends to the baggage type and size as well. As with other ICS platforms, it can handle over-sized, odd-sized, and standard baggage on the same line, removing the need for dedicated special baggage lines and manual handling.
Cart-based ICS can be used as a modern connecting system that allows airports to connect their existing infrastructure without replacing it. For airports of all sizes, including small and medium-sized airports, the cart-based ICS is an opportunity to integrate baggage systems to support growth, reduce manual handling, and make baggage operations more efficient.
It enables full tracking of every bag, shortens connection times and operates with minimal maintenance demands.
Whether it’s linking a remote screening building to the main terminal, connecting two formerly separate baggage systems, or building a foundation for future flexibility, the cart-based ICS helps airports streamline their operations without starting from scratch.
By doing so, it enables airports to deliver better baggage handling performance, greater security, and a smoother passenger experience at every step of the journey.
