Summary

  • European airlines make largest mishandled baggage improvement since 2007, but still higher than US and Asia-Pacific rates.
  • Global mishandled rate has dropped by 63% since 2007 despite rising passenger numbers.
  • Automated technology and digital tracking features contribute to baggage efficiency improvements.

European airlines have made considerable long-term improvements in reducing mishandled baggage rates, according to the latest industry figures from IT firm SITA. In fact, there has been a significant overall decrease in the number of mishandled bags globally despite passenger numbers reaching record highs last year.

European airlines tackle mishandled baggage

According to SITA’s latest Baggage IT Insights report, European airlines have made the greatest long-term strides in cutting down mishandled baggage rates since 2007, dropping from 16.6 bags per 1,000 checked bags in 2007 to 10.6 in 2023. However, the rate in Europe is still well above what passengers in the US or Asia-Pacific region can expect. US airlines maintained a mishandling rate of 5.8 bags per 1,000 last year, while in Asia-Pacific it was just 3.04 bags per 1,000.

Several pieces of luggage on a baggage carousel.

Photo: Travel man | Shutterstock

The US has managed to reduce its mishandling rate from 7.1 per 1,000 bags in 2007, also achieving a 9% reduction for 2023 compared to the previous year. In Asia-Pacific, the airline industry has long had a firm grip on keeping mishandled baggage down – the rate has remained remarkably consistent since 2007, when it recorded 3.05 mishandled bags per 1,000, now at 3.04 for 2023.

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Global figures

The global rate of mishandled baggage has been slashed by an impressive 63% since 2007, despite the fact that passenger numbers have more than doubled. According to International Air Transport Association (IATA) figures, there were approximately 5.2 billion air passengers in 2023 – more than double the number recorded in 2007 (2.48 billion) – and also a new global annual record, beating 2019’s total of 4.54 billion.

Baggage Handlers With Suitcases

Photo: Ververidis Vasilis | Shutterstock

As you would expect, bags are far more likely to be mishandled on international flights than domestic – five times as likely to be exact – despite major improvements in the international sector last year. SITA also revealed the most common reasons for mishandled bags:

Transfer Mishandling

46%

Failure To Load

16%

Ticketing/Bag Switch/Security

14%

Airport/Customs/Weather/Space-Weight Issues

8%

Loading Error

8%

Arrival Mishandling

4%

Tagging Error

4%

Automated baggage procedures

Much of the rapid improvement in baggage efficiency can be attributed to automated technology. Many airlines have introduced features that allow passengers to track their bags digitally, usually via the airline’s app – according to SITA, 32% of air passengers today use their mobile devices to keep track of their bags.

Related

SITA Credits Technology For Fewer Mishandled Bags

The rate of mishandled bags dropped slightly in 2023, but air transport technology company SITA is calling for more AI and automation.

According to David Lavorel, CEO of SITA,

“There are still hurdles to overcome though, like transfer mishandling, making sure bags make it onto the next flight, or smooth delivery of bags at the collection belt. The challenge is even greater when facing surges in large baggage volumes. That’s why it’s important to push forward with digitalization and to use AI and computer vision tech in baggage handling.”

With only 58% of airlines and 66% of airports sharing baggage data, there is still plenty to be done in the industry to improve, particularly as passenger numbers continue to rise. In 2018, IATA introduced Resolution 753, which aims to make baggage tracking mandatory at four key points of the process, namely Check-In, Loading, Transfer and Arrival.

When was the last time you had to deal with mishandled baggage? Let us know in the comments section.

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