Dubai baggage clampdown

Bags without flat surfaces are to be banned from Dubai Airport from Wednesday (8 March) after officials said irregularly shaped or oversized luggage can disrupt even the most technologically advanced systems.

Vice-president of terminal operations Ali Angizeh said:  "Dubai International provides some of the most sophisticated systems in the world but even the best can be disrupted by irregular shaped or oversized items. 

“Bags that are round or do not have a flat surface of any kind are by far the largest source of baggage jams and can shut down sections of our system, delay baggage delivery to the aircraft and inconvenience our customers."

The airport company says has advised all airlines operating into Dubai of the new regulations. Passengers who arrive with non-compliant baggage will be given the option to have it repacked in boxes for a fee.

The DXB baggage handling system stretches for 140km (87mi) and covers a surface area equivalent to 75 football fields. Powered by 21,000 motors, it is among the largest in the world, with 15,000 trays.

Dubai International Airport estimated it handled some 9.3m bags in January this year, with each item spending an average of 2min in the handling system. 

www.dubaiairports.ae

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Jo Kemp, Reading

So how will they cope with golf bags?? (I even checked today isn't April 1st!)