Baggage management by the world’s airlines improved again in 2016, as the industry focused more on technology investments and prepares for a step-change in handling by June 2018. According to the SITA Baggage Report 2017, the rate of mishandled bags was 5.73 bags per 1,000 passengers in 2016: this was down 12.25% from the previous year and in fact is the lowest ever recorded figure.
This will come as good news for the growing volume of passengers, which last year hit an all-time high of 3.77bn. Since 2007, the rate of mishandled baggage has fallen 70%, thanks to investment in technologies and process improvements by the world’s airlines and airports. Over the coming 18 months, this is expected to improve even further as the majority of the world’s airlines have adopted an IATA resolution that requires every piece of checked baggage to be tracked along its journey.
