Dubai Airports is to ban luggage that does not lie flat in an effort to prevent blockages in its baggage-handling system.
Officials said passengers trying to check in baggage that was round or bound together would be rejected as of March 8.
The airport authority released pictures of items in bubble wrap that it said slowed down the system.
“Dubai International provides some of the most sophisticated baggage systems in the world,” said Ali Angizeh, vice president of terminal operations at Dubai International.
“However, even the most technologically advanced systems can be disrupted by oversized or irregular-shaped bags.
“Bags that are round or do not have a flat surface of any kind are by far the largest cause of baggage jams,” Mr Angizeh said.
“These jams can shut down sections of our system, delay the delivery of baggage to the aircraft and inconvenience -customers.”
Dubai Airports has advised all airlines operating into Dubai International Airport of the imminent change and has updated its website, mobile app and signage across the airport to help to raise awareness.
“We are trying to get the message out there as much as possible,” Mr Angizeh said.
“Passengers who show up at the airport with non-compliant baggage, will also be given the option to have it repacked in boxes, for a fee.”
John Dyett, head of baggage operations at the airport, said on many occasions the bags in question were unsecured and simply wrapped in plastic and tied with rope.
“This type of baggage will be placed into cardboard boxes, which are flat sided and as a result can go through our system without causing blockages,” he said.
This service will be provided at the same counter where passengers get plastic wrapping for their suitcases, he said.
“We have empathy with passengers but we also have to ensure the smooth operation of the airport and delays with baggage drop-off can then lead to delays in check-in operations,” he said.
The huge scale and complex nature of the airport means that its baggage system is more susceptible to jamming by oversized or irregular-shaped bags, he said.
Other international airports have rules focusing on size and weight, but no comparative policy in relation to irregular-shaped luggage.
The news was met with concern by some passengers worried that the cost of baggage would be too high.
“I think they will make it too expensive to repackage and my other concern is that the boxes will not be strong enough for the flight,” said Sanjeet Chauhan, 35, from India.
“I’ve packed luggage like this because we have had them damaged during flights before and I was worried something similar will happen.
“What happens if someone can’t afford to pay for the repacking? Will they have to leave their stuff behind? That seems unfair to me.”
Stretching 140 kilometres and covering a surface area of 75 football fields, DXB’s baggage-handling system is among the largest in the world.
It has 15,000 trays and is powered by 21,000 motors. DXB handled approximately 9.3 million bags in January this year. A bag spends an average of 29 minutes in the baggage system at DXB.
newsdesk@thenational.ae