Lost or delayed bags can be a nightmare for travelers, affecting both personal holidays and business trips. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has recognized this issue and is working on a new initiative to enhance communication between airlines and airports to improve interline baggage transfer.
IATA plans to launch a pilot project later this year to test a digital messaging standard for baggage exchange communication. This standard will enable airlines to share crucial information such as bag images and geolocations, which are not supported by the current bag messaging technology. The aim is to streamline the baggage handling process and reduce mishandling rates.
According to a report by the technology company SITA, airlines globally mishandled 6.9 bags per 1,000 in the previous year. On international routes where interline itineraries are common, this number spiked to 12.1 per thousand. This highlights the pressing need for improved communication and tracking systems in the airline industry.
In 2018, IATA adopted Resolution 753, which requires airlines to track baggage at key points in its journey and share this information with interline partners. While progress has been made, with 44% of airlines fully implementing the resolution’s requirements, there are still challenges. The reliance on costly legacy messaging technology called Type B is a significant barrier to full compliance.
The high cost of Type B messaging technology, estimated at $1.05 billion annually, is a major concern for airlines. By transitioning just 10% of baggage messaging to digital, potential global savings of $70 million per year could be achieved. This shift could also improve message quality and ultimately reduce baggage mishandling incidents.
Developing a digital messaging standard for baggage exchange communication is deemed feasible and cost-effective by IATA. However, the challenge lies in achieving global implementation of this standard. Effective communication between airlines at transfer points is crucial to reducing mishandling cases, which account for a significant portion of delayed bags.
The effort to enhance interline baggage transfer communication is a step in the right direction for the airline industry. By adopting modern digital messaging standards and reducing reliance on outdated technology, airlines can streamline baggage handling processes, improve communication between stakeholders, and ultimately enhance the travel experience for passengers.