Your own bag is missing from the conveyor belt at the destination airport, suitcases pile up in mountains - air travelers were confronted with such experiences in 2022. According to a study by aviation IT service provider Sita, there were 26 million delayed or lost pieces of luggage in 2022 – more than at any time since 2012. The rate of how many baggage problems there were in relation to the number of passengers also jumped to a ten-year high.

Timo Kotowski

Editor in business.

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According to Sita, 1000.7 out of 3 travelers had to experience that suitcases and bags did not cross the conveyor belt as desired. Previously, the industry had become more reliable in terms of baggage through streamlined operations and more computer technology, but in 2022, many previous efforts were thwarted. From 2007 to 2021, the rate of miscarriage halved, so "it is disappointing to see that it is now rising again," says Sita boss David Lavorel.

During the pandemic, only 3.5 baggage problems per 1000 travelers had been registered. This is a historically low figure, which can be explained by the fact that there were fewer flights and fewer passengers. However, in 2019, when one billion more passengers flew internationally than in 2022, there were also only 5.6 irregularities per 1000 passengers.

Travellers in Europe particularly affected

Sita cites the shortage of employees as the reason for the increase in 2022 after employees were laid off or looked for other jobs themselves during the pandemic. And the traveler's experience seems to be having an impact. "As an industry, we have to work hard to ensure that passengers regain confidence in the check-in of their baggage," says Lavorel. This is likely to be particularly true in Europe, where the difficulties have accumulated. In Asia, only 3.0 out of 1000 travelers missed luggage at their destination, while in North America the proportion was more than twice as high at 6.4. Europe stood out with 15.7 baggage problems per 1000 passengers. This means that every 64th traveller was affected.

One consolation may be that most of the bags and suitcases reappear. 80 percent arrive unscathed and only late, but 7 percent have remained missing so far. Incidentally, 42 percent of the problems occurred in connection with transfers, when travelers have to change from one flight to another on the way and luggage has to be reloaded. 17 percent were due to the fact that suitcases did not get on the plane at the airport of departure.

Sita has its own interest in this data, the company supplies software for airlines that is intended to facilitate the tracking and automated forwarding of suitcases. As an alternative, travelers can put tracking trackers in their checked luggage. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has now formally allowed GPS trackers to be carried in the cargo hold of aircraft. Some airlines had previously seen a safety risk when the small battery-powered electronic parts were transported on the lower deck.