Fewer lost bags despite record passenger numbers in 2024 – SITA

June 12, 2025 in Business, Companies, Technology & Telecoms, Transport by Editor

Global air travel reached a historic milestone in 2024, with 5.3 billion passengers flying worldwide — an 8.2pc increase over the previous year — yet airlines managed to reduce the mishandling of checked baggage to its lowest level in nearly two decades, according to the newly released SITA Baggage IT Insights 2025 report.

Despite the dramatic surge in travellers, the mishandling rate dropped to 6.3 bags per 1,000 passengers, down from 6.9 in 2023, marking a 67pc improvement since 2007. In Africa and the Middle East, the figure was even better at 6.02 bags per 1,000 passengers, placing the region among the best performers globally.

The report, which reflects the data and perspectives of 280 airlines and global IATA passenger statistics, credits growing investment in technology — including real-time tracking, automation, and AI-powered solutions — for the gains.

“Passengers now expect their baggage experience to be as easy and transparent as using a rideshare or delivery app,” said David Lavorel, CEO of SITA. “Airlines are ready to tap into technology that improves the passenger experience while keeping costs down.”

While 33.4 million bags were mishandled globally, over 66pc (22 million) were resolved within 48 hours via SITA’s WorldTracer® system. Of those, 25pc were reunited with their owners in under 12 hours, and another 76pc within the 24–48-hour window.

However, baggage mishandling still cost the industry an estimated USD 5 billion in 2024 due to claims handling, courier services, and passenger compensation — underscoring the need for continued investment in smart baggage solutions.

SITA’s findings also highlight growing passenger demand for digital tools: 42pc of passengers had access to real-time bag status updates in 2024, up from 38% the previous year. Nearly half of surveyed travelers said mobile tracking would increase their confidence in checking bags, while 38% valued digital ID tags.

Among the tech innovations spotlighted is Auto Reflight, a WorldTracer® feature that automatically reroutes misplaced bags without human intervention. Airlines such as British Airways, Lufthansa, and Qantas have already adopted the system, further speeding up resolutions.

Transfer-related delays continue to be the leading cause of mishandling, responsible for 41pc of cases, though that figure improved from 46pc in 2023. Operational factors such as weather and customs delays saw a slight increase, now making up 10% of mishandling causes.

To tackle the remaining challenges, the aviation industry recently approved a new data protocol — Modern Baggage Messaging (MBM) Version 2 — projected to cut mishandling rates by a further 5pc. It builds on existing IATA regulations that require tracking baggage at four critical points in the journey.

“We’re making progress, but baggage still causes stress,” noted Nicole Hogg, SITA’s Director of Baggage. “The future of baggage is rapidly evolving with automation and mobile tools. We’re making the experience much more reliable.”