Airlines Prioritize Minimizing Baggage Mishandling, Says IATA Survey

Tracking luggage at acceptance, loading, transfer, and delivery is expected to minimize mishandlings and help airlines reunite lost bags with their owners faster, found a survey released this week by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) at the Ground Handling Conference (IGHC) in Reykjavík hosted by Icelandair.

The survey of some 155 airlines and 94 airports which examined the progress made globally on the implementation of baggage tracking and of IATA Resolution 753 found that in the 2007-2022 period baggage mishandling reduced by nearly 60 percent.

In 2022, the global rate of mishandled bags was 7.6 per 1,000 passengers, with the majority returned within 48 hours, said IATA.

Currently, 44 percent of airlines have fully implemented the resolution while 41 percent are in progress. Full adoption rates vary according to region with China and North Asia at 88 percent, the Americas at 60 percent, Europe and Asia-Pacific at 40 percent, and Africa 27 percent.

At the same time however, 75 percent of airports surveyed have the capability for baggage tracking. The majority of airports (73 percent) surveyed use optical barcode scanning for tracking needs while 27 percent use RFID which is more efficient.

“Between 2007 and 2022 baggage mishandling reduced by nearly 60 percent. That is good news. But travelers expect better; and the industry is determined to make further improvements,” said IATA Director Ground Operations Monika Mejstrikova.

Resolution 753 also requires airlines to exchange baggage tracking messages with interline partners and their agents. IATA is pushing for the industry’s transition from Type B to modern baggage messaging based on XML standards. The first pilot run of modern baggage messaging between airport and airlines is planned for launch this year.

“Adopting modern messaging is the equivalent of implementing a new standard, intelligible language for use by airlines, airports, and ground handling staff so they can effectively communicate about passenger luggage.

In addition to helping reduce the number of mishandled bags implementation also sets the stage for ongoing innovations in baggage management systems,” said Mejstrikova.