Major Improvements in Baggage Handling Provide Positive Effect on Industry

The air transport industry has saved more than $22 billion in the past nine years, thanks to major improvements in baggage handling and a massive reduction in lost or mishandled bags, according to an article written by SITA's Maneesh Jaikrishna.

SITA's VP of India and Sub-continent says despite there being 43 percent more passengers during that period, the number of mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers fell by two-thirds -- from 18.88 to just 6.5. That mark is the lowest mishandling rate since SITA began reporting baggage handling trends in 2003.

The report also states the actual number of mishandled bags has dropped significantly – from around 46.8m in 2007 to 22.75m in 2015.