Rise in Mishandled Baggage in 2010

Despite an unprecedented 300,000 flight cancellations and a new record of 2.44 billion people travelling by plane last year, the air transport industry has maintained the overall downward trend in baggage mishandling.

SITA’s 7th Annual Baggage Report, launched today at the major industry event, Passenger Terminal Expo in Copenhagen, showed that the rise in mishandled baggage claims last year was significantly less than the 10.41% rise in passenger volumes recorded.

SITA, the world’s leading specialist in air transport communications and IT solutions, reported a 4.4% rise in delayed baggage files last year despite three monthly spikes ranging from 15% to 20% due to bad weather in February and December, and the volcanic ash cloud in May.

The year saw the first increase in baggage mishandling since 2007 when 42.4 million bags were delayed and the rate was 18.86 mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers. In 2010, 29.4 million bags were delayed on arrival which translates into a mishandling rate of 12.07 bags per 1,000 passengers which represents a significant decline in mishandling over the last four years.

The mishandling trend is downwards since 2007 thanks to improved technology and greater vigilance on the part of airports and airlines, many of whom are working together in the IATA Baggage Improvement Programme.

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