Advanced tech sees Europe’s mishandled bag rate drop a quarter

SITA insights report attributes increased precision

According to the newly released SITA Baggage IT Insights 2025, Europe reduced its mishandling rate to 12.3 bags per 1,000 passengers, marking a 26% improvement compared to 2007 and an impressive recovery from 15.7 in 2022.

The global picture also tells a story of progress. Despite an 8.2% increase in worldwide traffic in 2024, the overall mishandling rate dropped to 6.3 bags per 1,000 passengers, down from 6.9 the previous year and 67% lower than in 2007. 

The total number of mishandled bags decreased to 33.4 million, compared to 33.8 million the previous year.

Of the 33.4 million mishandled bags, over 66% (22 million) were resolved and closed in SITA WorldTracer within 48 hours, underscoring the industry’s ability to quickly reunite passengers with their luggage.

 Specifically, out of the 22 million, 25% were resolved within 12 hours, 38% within 24 hours, and another 38% within 48 hours.

But while these results show clear improvement, baggage mishandling still cost the industry an estimated $5 billion in 2024 and passengers are increasingly expecting more from the industry. 

The costs, from courier returns and customer service to claims handling and lost productivity, highlight the urgency of continued investment in real-time, automated, and data-driven baggage systems.

“In air transport, transformation isn’t a phase, it’s the norm. The industry is constantly evolving, driven by technology, passenger expectations, and global change,” said David Lavorel, CEO of SITA. 

“We’ve seen a radical shift with automation and the widespread use of real-time tracking. Passengers now expect their baggage experience to be as easy and transparent as using a rideshare or delivery app. 

“It’s no longer just about moving bags, it’s about delivering a smooth, connected journey. Airlines are ready to tap into technology that improves the passenger experience while keeping costs down and being simple to roll out. 

“Together with our partners, we’re reimagining baggage handling to give passengers full visibility and control from departure to arrival, giving them peace of mind and making travel simpler and better."

Airports and airlines are now handling greater baggage volumes with more precision. Real-time tracking, AI-powered analytics, and self-service solutions are no longer experimental; they are becoming standard, and they are having an effect. 

This shows the real impact of investing in smart, data-driven baggage systems.

In 2024, 42% of passengers had access to real-time baggage updates, up from 38% the year before. Nearly half of travellers say mobile tracking would boost their confidence in checking in a bag, and 38% value the addition of digital ID tags.

Airlines have responded by prioritising visibility across the baggage journey. Currently, 66% offer automated bag drop, and another 16% plan to by 2027. On the airport side, 65% plan to roll out biometric self-service bag drop by the same year.

One of the standout innovations in 2024 was the integration of Apple’s Share Item Location feature with SITA WorldTracer. Passengers can share the location of their Apple AirTag with airlines, allowing quicker baggage recovery. 

“We’re making progress, but baggage still causes stress,” said Nicole Hogg, Director of Baggage at SITA. “Passengers want reassurance. The future of baggage is rapidly evolving with automation, computer vision, and mobile tools, we’re making the experience much more reliable.”

The SITA Baggage IT Insights 2025 report reflects the views and data of 280 airlines and IATA passenger traffic.