Innovation rarely happens overnight. It grows from ideas, partnerships, and countless hours of work by people who believe the future can be better than today. At this year’s MWC Barcelona, BagID AS had the opportunity to showcase exactly that - a vision for smarter, more seamless travel where checked baggage becomes easier for passengers and more efficient for airports.
MWC Barcelona brings together tens of thousands of leaders from across the global connectivity ecosystem, business, and government. The event explores the future of technology through four key pillars: iconic thinking, big ideas, the latest technology, and global change. The event provided the perfect setting to show how technology is reshaping travel infrastructure - and how smarter baggage solutions can contribute to more connected and efficient airports.
Showcasing innovation together with Aena
During the event, BagID AS was proud to be part of the “Airport of the Future” pavilion, together with Aena and fellow innovation partners DeuSens and Petpass. As part of Aena’s innovation programme, we were invited to present the work being developed within the project and to share insights into how new technologies can contribute to more efficient airport operations and smoother passenger journeys.
From Aena’s stand, we had the opportunity to speak with visitors from across the aviation and technology sectors about how collaboration between airports, technology companies and innovation partners can help shape the future of airport infrastructure.
The conversations we had throughout the week confirmed that the aviation industry is actively seeking solutions that reduce passenger friction while supporting more efficient airport operations.
A royal visit
One of the most memorable moments of the week came on the very first day of the exhibition, when His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain visited the Aena stand. During the visit, we had the honour of presenting the innovation project we are developing together with Aena and demonstrating how new technologies can contribute to the future of airport operations and passenger journeys - including a live demonstration of our electronic bag tag, BagID 2.
Strong interest from press and industry
Throughout the week, the interest in the innovation project and the work being done together with Aena was strong. We had the opportunity to speak with visitors from across the aviation, mobility and technology sectors, many of whom were curious about how new technologies and collaboration between airports and technology partners can contribute to more efficient airport operations and smoother passenger journeys.
The discussions also touched on how solutions such as digital bag tags and passenger-enabled tracking can play a role in reducing friction in the baggage journey and supporting more efficient baggage handling processes.
The attention also extended beyond the exhibition floor. Several media outlets covered the growing trend of electronic bag tags - including The Times, which highlighted how this technology is already changing how frequent travellers move through airports:
“There is an elite club of air travellers for whom the long check-in queue is a thing of the past. They are not first class or business customers, but owners of electronic bag tags that let them check in their luggage in at home.”
- The Times
For BagID AS, seeing this shift reflected in international media is an encouraging sign that the industry is moving towards a more digital, efficient and passenger-centric baggage journey.
As our CEO Ina Eldøy reflected after the event:
“I am happy and humbled by the interest Aena and BagID received during the show. We had visitors from all over the world - and today I woke up to BagID being featured in an article by The Times.”
Looking ahead
Events like MWC Barcelona remind us of that innovation in travel is driven by technology, collaboration and bold ideas. Real progress happens when airports, technology partners and forward-thinking teams come together to test new concepts and explore how the next generation of airport infrastructure can take shape.
For BagID AS, the week in Barcelona was both inspiring and motivating. Being part of Aena’s innovation programme and presenting the project together with our partners reinforced our belief that the future of baggage handling will be more connected, more transparent and more efficient - benefiting both passengers and the complex operations that keep airports running.
We are proud of the progress made so far, and even more excited about what lies ahead. Every partnership, every experiment and every conversation move us a step closer to a future where travelling with checked baggage is simpler for passengers - and where airports are better equipped to manage growing volumes with smarter, more efficient processes.
