Method of sorting baggage at an airport

A method of sorting baggage at an airport, the method comprising:

• transporting the baggage by a conveyor system;
• acquiring at least one digital image of a label that is attached to a piece of baggage and that was printed out to identify said piece of baggage unambiguously, the label including a machine-readable identification code designed to correspond to a set of items of data from a baggage first database compiled as the baggage is being checked in;
• attempting to identify the piece of baggage by reading said identification code;
• and,
• based on said image, automatically recognizing a flight corresponding to said piece of baggage so as to control said conveyor system and so as to direct said piece of baggage at the airport;
• said method further comprising:
• retrieving textual information that is printed on the label from said digital image;
• comparing said textual information with data that is recorded in a local second database at the airport before the label for identifying said piece of baggage is printed, said second database being distinct from said baggage first database, the data from the second database being representative of a list of flights to or from said airport with a view to detecting a match;
• and,
• in response to a match being detected, automatically transmitting data representative of a flight number corresponding to the piece of baggage to the conveyor system.