Today we would like to pay a tribute to a pioneer in baggage handling technology. 50 years ago, on 14 March 1972, Frankfurt Airport put the first independent carrier system (ICS) for baggage handling into operation in what was then the Middle Terminal. Today the system is not only alive and kicking in what is now T1 and T2, it is also still modular and extendable.

Frankfurt Airport had an early vision to become a preferred transfer airport with 45 minutes connection time. In 1972, when barcode reading had not yet entered on the baggage handling scene, that was already a significant service to offer to passengers. To succeed, Frankfurt Airport needed a system that could carry the bags individually to avoid having to recode their destination.

Today, ICS technology plays an important role in many airports – not only because of the fast baggage transfer possibility, but because it insures the tracking and tracing of all bags is kept at 100% at all times. Congratulations on the anniversary, Frankfurt Airport, and thank you for paving the way for this important technology.