“It” is the airport’s by now infamous $200 million automated baggage system – in conception, a miracle of travelers’ convenience. Passengers were supposed to step off their flight and let technology take over. Bags would be whisked along 22 miles of underground track, guided almost magically to their destination by more than 100 computers. No fuss, no wait at baggage claim. In reality, Denver’s space-age system doesn’t merely carry your luggage; it eats it, as well as flings, crushes and misdirects it. The troubles have been so severe that Denver has delayed opening the new airport four times since October. Rather than postpone once again, Webb last week announced a lower-tech “solution.” Give up, for now, and build a $50 million conventional system – complete with conveyor belts, human luggage handlers and, of course, baggage claim.
Denver’s troubles aren’t over yet. Its biggest carrier, United Airlines, can nix the latest plan. The huge new airport is so sprawling, airline officials fear, that a manual system may be unworkably slow. “Our customers don’t want to wait 50 minutes for their skis,” says a United spokesman, noting that the wait in most airports is 20 minutes. United asked the city for 30 days to recommend its own solution, he adds, but no. The reason, said Webb: spending $50 million is “a lot cheaper than paying $33 million a month” in interest and other expenses on the $4 billion airport. Ladies and gentlemen, your flight is delayed, delayed . . .
