Balfour Beatty wins GBP170m Heathrow baggage contract

Balfour Beatty has won a £170m contract to upgrade baggage screening and handling systems for Heathrow Airport.

The project was awarded through the Heathrow Airport Limited Delivery Integrator Framework, to which Balfour Beatty was appointed in 2014, and will involve upgrading and installing new baggage screening and handling systems at the west London airport's eastern baggage facility.

Last week, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the decision on Heathrow's possible awarding of a third runway will be delayed until "at least October".

Balfour said it would employ the latest 'building information modelling' techniques "to define the most efficient approach to design, manage logistics and to interface with live airport operations".

Leo Quinn, chief executive, said: "This contract award is testament to the strength of the partnership we have developed with Heathrow Airport Limited over the last 17 years. The UK aviation sector is a core market for Balfour Beatty and we are delighted to play our part in helping Heathrow maintain its position as a leading travel hub and supporting local employment."