Tagsys announced yesterday that Qantas, Australia’s leading airline, has deployed an RFID reusable baggage tag using TAGSYS technology as part of its Next Generation airport check-in system.

The use of RFID will not only help speed baggage check-in and loading, but staff will also be able to use hand-held RFID readers locate baggage quickly in the hold of an airplane if an item has to be offloaded.

“The Qantas Q Bag Tag represents a revolutionary approach to utilizing RFID in airline applications,” says Alain Fanet, CEO of TAGSYS. “By expanding the value proposition of RFID from the point the customer checks their baggage and throughout the handling and sortation process, Qantas has positioned itself on the leading edge of RFID utilization.”

The deployment of a permanent, RFID-based baggage tag is unique in the airline industry. Previous RFID-based baggage tracking solutions relied on wasteful, disposable tags, and focused exclusively on improving the efficiency and accuracy of baggage sortation after the check-in process. The Qantas solution, offers an environmentally friendly reusable tag, which improves the accuracy and speed of after check-in processes, while offering new customer service benefits at the front-end of the process as well.

The baggage tags have been being distributed to Qantas premium frequent flyers. Once the solution is fully deployed, Qantas hopes to eliminate paper baggage tags for all its frequent flyers.