Southwest Taking Manual Approach to Delivering Luggage at PIT

June 14, 2017
One year after signing on to use an automated baggage system operated by American Airlines, Southwest has abandoned part of it in favor of manual labor.

Southwest Airlines is taking a manual approach to delivering luggage at Pittsburgh International Airport.

According to a report from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, one year after signing on to use an automated baggage system operated by American Airlines, Southwest has abandoned part of it in favor of manual labor.

Per the report, the automated baggage system, has been underused since US Airways — formerly known as USAir and now part of American — shut down its Pittsburgh hub in 2004. It was operating at just a third of its capacity when Southwest jumped on board last year, according to the article.

According to teh Post-Gazette, Southwest started using the automated system last May because the manual system at the terminal’s south end was becoming overtaxed from the number of new flights and new airlines starting service in Pittsburgh. However, Southwest issued a statement saying the automated system for inbound flights wasn't suiting its customers' needs.

The airline has since made the move back to the manual system, which uses employee labor and motorized carts to haul bags from planes to baggage carousels.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2017/06/14/Southwest-Airlines-baggage-delivery-system-pittsburgh-international-airport/stories/201706140031