The aviation industry’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed a new and unprecedented challenge: an acute shortage of labour. This white paper explores the pivotal role of automation in addressing labour scarcity within the baggage hall. We will demonstrate how optimising the baggage handling system (BHS), implementing smart batching techniques, and automating the handler processes can help airports and airlines to tackle this challenge. By examining these three key areas, the paper provides valuable insights and guidance on how increased levels of automation within the baggage hall can be achieved by implementing new technologies and improving processes. (....)