Adoption of radio frequency identification (RFID) by the aviation industry has been slow despite predictions that the sector could lead the way in use of the tracking technology.
A survey by aviation technology supplier Sita says only 14 per cent of airports are using RFID for employee identification, nine per cent use if for baggage tracking and just one per cent for asset tracking and management.
One of the major stumbling blocks to its widespread use could be the question of who funds the required infrastructure: airports or airlines.
Low-cost airline Flybe has been testing RFID to track high-value tools and safety equipment, such as life jackets.
But project manager Noel Edwards says large-scale applications such as baggage and passenger tracking will have to be driven by airports.
‘Airports process passengers and baggage and they need to push ahead with these projects,’ he said. ‘Tags needed for this are also still expensive.’
Edwards says if airports and airlines work together there are many potential uses for RFID, including asset tracking, security and queue reductions. Airports that have run trials on RFID have increased read rates from 85 per cent to the high 90s.
‘RFID is still a new technology and big investment is required – so the biggest airports need to take it on first,’ he said. ‘Heathrow Terminal 5 presents the perfect opportunity.’
Manchester Airports Group head of group information systems Martin Smith says it is not prepared to make an investment in RFID yet. ‘To me, RFID is an answer, but we are still looking for the right question,’ he said.
‘We do see that it could offer huge advantages over conventional barcodes in bag tracking or passenger flow. But at present, we have scanning technology that works well, so why change?’
The International Air Transport Association’s RFID project manager Andrew Price says the organisation is working to unite airlines and airports and conduct pilots of the technology.
Peter Harrop, chairman of analyst ID TechEx, says RFID take-up has been slow, but he expects it to increase significantly within the sector over the next 10 years.
‘Airlines operate in a low-margin industry and have lost a lot of money over the years, so many cannot afford investment in new technologies,’ he said.
‘But airports are generally more prosperous as they are either government-owned or assisted, and make money from activities such as retail and parking.’
Harrop says if airports invest in RFID infrastructure, it could encourage airlines to invest. But many have been reluctant to direct funds into innovation over priorities such as security and expansion, despite its potential.
RFID adoption
Standard frequency for RFID tags in baggage tracking could drive adoption.
The market for such tags is expected to rise from $20m (£10.6m) in 2006 to $100m (£53m) in 2016.
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Further reading
RFID accelerates safety checks
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