Airlines lose fewer bags despite rising passenger numbers

Airlines are losing fewer bags despite the growing passenger numbers. Investment in technologies and process improvements are the main reasons why travellers are less likely to arrive at their destination without their bags.

There is nothing more frustrating for a passenger than to arrive at the airport only to find that your luggage didn’t travel with you. But airlines and airports are reporting that fewer passengers are experiencing the discomfort of losing their bags. And this, despite the fact that the number of travellers has increased over the last year.

A recent report released by SITA, a multinational information technology company, shows that airlines around the world improved their baggage management during 2016. According to the document, the rate of mishandled bags was 5.73 bags per thousand passengers in 2016, down 12.25% from the previous year and the lowest ever recorded. This, despite the fact that the number of passengers has reached the all-time high of 3.77 billion.

Furthermore, the document points out that since 2007, the rate of mishandled luggage has fallen 70% and according to SITA this is due to investments in technology and improvements in the process of baggage management.

Most of the luggage got lost during plane transfers, the report points out. In 2016, close to half (47%) of delayed bags were in the process of being transferred.

Mishandled baggage also comes with a cost. SITA estimates that not only passengers’ experience is suffering but companies have had to foot a bill of $2.1 billion in 2016 to recover and reunite passengers with their bags, despite the 12% drop.

But there is more good news for passengers as IATA members, making up the majority of the world’s airline operators, have signed an agreement stating that by June 2018, every piece of checked baggage has to be tracked along its journey.This is expected to further increase the efficiency of baggage management.

“It is frustrating for passengers and airlines when bags go missing but the days of not knowing where your bag is will soon to be a thing of the past”, said Ilya Gutlin, SITA President of Air Travel Solutions.”We are on the brink of a new era in airline baggage management because the world’s airlines are committing to track baggage throughout its journey. This requires data capture, management and sharing across airlines, airports and ground handlers giving a better view of where each piece of luggage is at every stage.”

Airlines will have to track each bag at four mandatory points, from the check-in to aircraft loading, at transfer between carriers; and on arrival as the bag is delivered back to the passenger.

Travellers will be able to ask for this information and bags will be tracked just like parcels with all parties being informed about the whereabouts of a luggage, in the case that the journey takes an unexpected turn with flights being disrupted and bags being delayed.