Friday, June 13, 2025

The Middle East and Africa’s air transport industry continues to make an impressive showing as it continues to lead in baggage performance, with regional passenger increases in 2024 having no impact on its status. The Middle East and Africa region had one of the lowest mishandled bag rates in the world in its recent SITA Baggage IT Insights 2025 report, with an average of 6.02 mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers in 2024, rising just slightly from 2023’s 4.5 but remaining one of the world’s best. This is an ironic testament to the good effects of regional investment in smart airport development and upgrading of baggage solutions.

SITA, a leading IT provider for the global air transport industry, highlighted that the strong performance in the Middle East and Africa is a direct result of the ongoing transformation in the sector. With advancements in real-time tracking, automation, and data-driven baggage management, the region has set a new benchmark for efficiency and passenger satisfaction. While global traffic surged by 8.2% in 2024, the overall mishandling rate dropped to 6.3 bags per 1,000 passengers, a decline from 6.9 in the previous year and a 67% improvement compared to 2007 levels.

The total number of mishandled bags globally decreased to 33.4 million in 2024, down from 33.8 million the previous year. Remarkably, over 66% of these bags (22 million) were resolved within 48 hours, showcasing the air transport industry’s ability to quickly reunite passengers with their luggage. Out of the 22 million, 25% were returned within 12 hours, 38% within 24 hours, and another 38% within 48 hours.

The Middle East & Africa’s strong performance in baggage handling is a testament to the region’s commitment to modernizing airport infrastructure and embracing innovative technologies. Airports and airlines in the region have made significant strides in improving baggage systems by incorporating automation, AI-powered analytics, and mobile tracking solutions. These technologies have helped streamline baggage handling operations, ensuring that passengers experience fewer delays and greater transparency in the baggage process.

The SITA Baggage IT Insights 2025 report also revealed that 42% of passengers worldwide had access to real-time baggage updates in 2024, up from 38% the previous year. Nearly half of travelers reported that mobile tracking would increase their confidence in checking in a bag, while 38% valued the addition of digital ID tags. Airlines in the Middle East & Africa have been quick to respond to these demands, with 66% of airlines offering automated bag drop services and an additional 16% planning to implement such services by 2027.

The airports in the region are not far behind. In fact, 65% of airports are planning to roll out biometric self-service bag drop by 2027, enhancing the efficiency of baggage handling and reducing waiting times for passengers. These improvements are expected to further enhance the passenger experience and solidify the region’s standing as a global leader in air transport innovation.

While the Middle East & Africa region continues to excel, the global trend also reflects significant progress in baggage handling. The worldwide mishandling rate has decreased to 6.3 bags per 1,000 passengers in 2024, which represents a notable improvement over the past decade. This drop in mishandled bags comes despite an 8.2% increase in global air traffic, indicating that airlines and airports worldwide are making concerted efforts to improve baggage management systems.

The largest portion of mishandled bags globally continues to be delayed baggage, accounting for 74% of all cases, down from 80% in the previous year. However, the industry is also seeing a rise in lost or stolen bags, which made up 8% of mishandling cases, while damaged or pilfered bags increased to 18%, up from 15% in 2023. Transfer mishandling remained the biggest contributor, at 41%, showing improvement from 46% in 2023. This is followed by tagging or ticketing errors, security issues, and similar factors, which rose slightly to 17%, and loading failures, which remained steady at 16%. Operational issues such as customs delays, weather disruptions, and capacity constraints increased to 10%, up from 8% in 2023.

One of the standout innovations in 2024 was the integration of Apple’s Share Item Location feature with SITA WorldTracer®, allowing passengers to share the location of their Apple AirTag with airlines. This collaboration has enabled quicker baggage recovery and has been adopted by several major airlines, including British Airways, Lufthansa, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, and Virgin Atlantic. This integration also powers WorldTracer’s Auto Reflight feature, which automatically re-flights bags on the original bag tag, identifies the cause of mishandling, and initiates resolution without human intervention.

These technological advancements are playing a key role in improving the overall baggage experience. Passengers are increasingly expecting a seamless, transparent baggage handling process, with many now viewing it as integral to their overall travel experience. The combination of real-time tracking, automation, and mobile tools is making baggage handling more reliable, efficient, and convenient.

The air transport industry is undergoing a shift in how baggage is viewed. No longer just a logistical challenge, baggage is being treated as a service, with greater emphasis on creating trust in the system. The SITA Baggage IT Insights 2025 report highlighted how airports like Red Sea International in Saudi Arabia are already implementing next-generation baggage solutions, including off-airport check-in and real-time tracking powered by SITA Bag Journey.

With the launch of the Modern Baggage Messaging (MBM) standard in 2025, the air transport industry aims to further reduce mishandling rates by enhancing data quality and predictive analytics. This new standard is expected to reduce mishandling by an additional 5%, building on previous efforts such as IATA Resolution 753, which mandates baggage tracking at four key stages. The focus now is on using shared data to predict and prevent issues, not just report them.

As the air transportation sector continues to undergo development, enhancing baggage handling will continue to be of utmost concern. The Middle East & Africa region is well-poised to set the pace in enhancing the passenger experience with its strategic investment in smart baggage systems as well as state-of-the-art technology. With automation, tracking in real-time, as well as data-driven solutions becoming the prevalent standard, the future of baggage management is brighter than it has ever been.