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In 2022, the recovery of air travel surpassed expectations, with traffic surging to 3.42 billion passengers. Despite this positive news, the swift comeback took the industry by surprise, resulting in increased disruptions as airports, airlines, and ground handlers navigated the surge in traffic with reduced staff.

What does this mean for baggage?

The mishandling rate has surged, highlighting a pressing need for the industry to accelerate the digitalization and automation of baggage operations.

Read the full report to explore trends and insights shaping baggage operations over the year.

Key trends in this year's report: 

  • After more than a decade of reduction in mishandled baggage thanks to process improvements, the global mishandling rate surged to 7.6 bags per thousand passengers in 2022, up 74.7% compared to 2021
  • The proportion of bags delayed at transfer increased to 42%, owing to the resurgence of international and long-haul travel.
  • Statements from industry partners (IATA, ACI, Lufthansa) that emphasize technology as key to operational efficiency and the increased need for the industry to automate further and digitalize
  • SITA's WorldTracer AutoReflight deployed in partnership with Lufthansa could save the industry $30 million annually by automatically booking baggage that missed a connection on the next available flight – all while keeping the passenger informed.