Airlines around the world have once again improved the rate of baggage delivery, according to the SITA 2018 Baggage Report. This continues the improvement trend that has now continued for more than a decade, and which has seen baggage mishandling drop by 70% since 2007.
The report details how baggage management is changing globally, and how airline passengers can expect to see major differences over the next two years.
Services like real-time notifications and fast self-service bag drop will be more commonplace and 2018 is the year that the IATA Resolution 753 comes into effect, which will see the industry increase baggage tracking.
SITA’s Baggage Report includes examples of how airlines – including Aeroflot, Alitalia, Bahamasair, Delta and Qatar – are using innovative technologies to improve bag management and tracking.
One case study outlines how the airline Bahamasair went from scanning bag tag labels on a ‘bingo’ card, to full Resolution 753 tracking in Miami and Nassau airports inside seven days. This included the full ability to share tracking data in real time via SITA’s BagJourney service. This initiative will deliver benefits to the airline including improved passenger service and cost savings.
SITA CEO Barbara Dalibard said, “Over the last decade, we have seen significant improvements in bag management as airlines have taken advantage of technology. Now with IATA’s drive for 100% bag tracking, technology adoption will rise further.
“End-to-end tracking produces data which reveals where improvements can be made in operational processes. While we won’t see a sudden change in 2018, it is a real turning point for the industry as airlines begin to unlock the value of the tracking data for the 4.65 billion bags they carry.”