Charleston International Airport Introduces AI Technology to Expedite Baggage Claim
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — Travelers arriving at Charleston International Airport often find that the waiting does not end upon touchdown. One persistent source of frustration has been slow baggage claim times, with passengers sometimes waiting 20 to 25 minutes for their luggage to appear.
Airport officials acknowledge that these delays reflect challenges not only visible to travelers but also affect the complex operations behind the scenes. The airport’s baggage handling system, originally constructed in the 1980s, currently accommodates luggage from only three aircraft at once. When several flights arrive in close succession, this limitation creates backlogs causing extended waits at the carousel.
To tackle this issue, Charleston International Airport is turning to advanced technology aided by artificial intelligence. Spencer Pryor, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, explained how the airport has begun integrating AI-driven tools to improve baggage processing and passenger convenience.
“We’ve also developed some key areas where we’ve now included some AI factors that will allow us to see which flights are coming in, how many bags are arriving, so we can assign a baggage carousel to the airline before they actually arrive,” Pryor said. This proactive assignment helps minimize congestion and speeds up the baggage retrieval process.
In addition, the airport has started displaying real-time information indicating which baggage carousel passengers should head to as soon as they disembark. This visibility helps travelers avoid unnecessary delays and uncertainty.
Beyond passenger-facing benefits, the AI system also supports airport staff by forecasting workload and timing. “Kind of that AI tells you how many bags are on there, how long it will approximately take for those bags to be unloaded and reach the carousel,” Pryor added, emphasizing how the technology optimizes resource allocation.
Looking forward, Charleston International Airport has ambitious plans to modernize its entire baggage handling infrastructure. Over the next several years, the facility is expected to invest more than $70 million in a state-of-the-art baggage system designed to incorporate AI capabilities and accommodate oversize luggage. The upgrade aims to eliminate bottlenecks on the back belt and further enhance overall baggage handling efficiency.
With passenger traffic increasing nearly 77% over the past decade, airport officials stress that the combination of artificial intelligence and a modernized baggage system is essential to improving the travel experience for the growing number of visitors passing through Charleston International.
As these technological advances take root, travelers can anticipate shorter wait times and a smoother journey from runway to baggage claim.
Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.
