Top News

• ‘Self Bag Drop’ facility started at Mumbai Airport
• Passengers’ time will be saved and travel speed will increase

Mumbai, February 6, 2026: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai (CSMIA) has launched 14 Hybrid Self Bag Drop (SBD) counters at Terminal 2 (T2), a major step in streamlining the departure process through technology-centric solutions. The hybrid SBD counters launched are part of CSMIA’s plan to convert all 212 existing check-in desks to hybrid format in a phased manner by 2028. The initiative aims to make better use of terminal space, increase baggage handling capacity and better manage passengers during peak as well as off-peak periods.

The launch of these counters follows a massive increase in the adoption of self-service baggage facilities at airports. Autonomous SBD usage is expected to increase by 40 per cent annually to 560,275 passengers in calendar year 2025 from 388,446 passengers in calendar year 2024, indicating the need for developing infrastructure to support faster and more convenient travel processes.

By integrating check-in and baggage drop into a single process, hybrid SBD counters reduce manual intervention, while also reducing passenger waiting time. This system enables eligible passengers to complete baggage payment transactions at the same counter, streamlining the process and reducing reliance on separate airline desks.

A single hybrid SBD counter in self-service mode can handle around 100 to 120 passengers’ luggage per hour compared to 25 to 30 passengers handled through contemporary manual processes, resulting in an almost four-fold increase in baggage handling capacity. The improvement will speed up the baggage claim process, facilitate passenger movement and make more efficient use of terminal infrastructure.

Launch of ‘InvesTap Nxt’ by SBI Mutual Fund; Now make smart investments with the help of AI!

Each hybrid SBD counter is designed for operational stability and can switch between manual and self-service modes through a simple mechanism. This allows airport and airline teams to balance personal support with efficiency as per operational requirements.

Commenting on the development, a CSMIA spokesperson said, “Handling baggage is critical to departure travel. With the increasing number of passengers, CSMIA is phasing out its check-in and baggage drop infrastructure, thereby maintaining stability while increasing efficiency. Hybrid The self bag drop counters allow us to increase capacity according to demand, while we continue to support passengers who require ancillary services.”

Currently, IndiGo and Air India have adopted hybrid SBD system deployment at T2. International airlines such as Lufthansa, Air France, Qatar, Swiss and KLM are using existing autonomous SBD facilities, and are in the process of migrating to hybrid SBD platforms.

The hybrid SBD system can also be integrated with Digiatra biometric technology, allowing registered passengers to use facial recognition for faster processing and less manual document checking.

To support passengers during this transition, CSMIA has deployed trained SBD assistants in the terminal to guide first-time and elderly passengers through the self-service process.

CSMIA is enhancing operational efficiency at T2 with the launch of hybrid SBD counters, while also enabling the system to accommodate the growing number of future passengers while keeping in line with global airport standards of speed, convenience and reliability.

Pakistan Economic Crisis: Pakistan’s economic crisis! The UAE gave a 30-day ultimatum for repayment