Lost or delayed bags can truly ruin a traveler’s experience, whether it be for a vacation or a business trip. The impact is so significant that even IATA director general Willie Walsh once went 35 years without checking a bag due to fears of mishandling. It is evident that baggage handling is a critical aspect of the airline industry that can have a direct impact on customer satisfaction and loyalty.
In an effort to address one of the biggest vulnerabilities in baggage handling – interline baggage transfer, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) is launching a pilot project to test a digital messaging standard for baggage exchange communication. This initiative aims to improve communication between airlines and airports as they transfer checked bags across interline itineraries, ultimately enhancing the overall baggage handling process.
Globally, airlines mishandled 6.9 bags per 1,000 last year, with the baggage mishandling rate on international routes being even higher at 12.1 per thousand. This highlights the need for improved efficiency and accuracy in handling bags, especially on interline itineraries where the risk of mishandling is greater. According to IATA’s 2023 World Passenger survey, dropping off and collecting bags are the two biggest sources of negative experiences within the control of airlines, emphasizing the importance of addressing baggage handling issues.
IATA adopted Resolution 753 in 2018, which mandates that airlines track baggage at four key points in their journey and share that information with interline ticket partners. While progress has been made in implementing Resolution 753, with 44% of airlines fully complying and 41% in the process of doing so, there are still challenges hindering global implementation. The reliance on costly legacy messaging technology such as Type B is a key issue, with the annual industry cost of baggage messaging amounting to $1.05 billion.
Developing a digital messaging standard for baggage exchange communication has the potential to revolutionize the baggage handling process. By enabling airlines to share information such as images of bags and baggage geolocations, this standard can improve communication between airlines and airports, leading to more efficient and accurate handling of checked bags. IATA estimates that if just 10% of airline baggage messaging was transmitted via digital messaging, global savings could reach $70 million per year.
Efficient baggage handling is a critical aspect of the airline industry that can significantly impact the overall travel experience for passengers. By implementing digital messaging standards and advancing baggage tracking technology, airlines can improve communication, accuracy, and efficiency in handling checked bags. It is imperative for the industry to move away from legacy systems and embrace modern solutions to address the challenges associated with baggage handling on interline itineraries.