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For jet-setters, there's hardly anything more aggravating than finding out upon landing that their checked luggage didn't make it on the same flight, or it's been damaged or lost. In Europe, this issue looms larger than in regions like North America or Asia-Pacific, according to the baggage report by air traffic service provider Sita. Even more troubling, the problem has been escalating in Europe in recent years.
Back in 2024, Europe had a whopping 12.3 bags per 1,000 passengers not showing up as scheduled. That was up from 10.6 the previous year, as Sita reported from Geneva. Interestingly, the trend is gradually decreasing in Europe. In fact, the figures from 2022 revealed that 15.7 bags per 1,000 passengers didn't arrive as expected.
North America and Asia-Pacific seem to be winning the baggage game
Europe's rate last year was nearly four times higher than in the Asia-Pacific region (3.1 per 1,000 passengers) and more than double that of North America (5.5 per 1,000 passengers).
On a global scale, Sita reported that 33.4 million bags were affected last year - a slight decrease compared to the previous year. Most of these delayed bags eventually arrived, often within 48 hours. Eight percent of bags were actually stolen or lost, and a concerning 18% were either damaged or pilfered - a rise from 15%.
Baggage drama racks up billions in costs
The industry coughs up a hefty $5 billion (roughly 4.35 billion euros) annually due to delayed baggage, which includes expenses for courier services to transport delayed luggage to passengers and compensation. The report is based on data from 280 airlines, as per Sita.
All in all, the industry has made significant strides, according to Sita. Back in 2007, a staggering 46.9 million bags didn't make their scheduled arrival.
(As air travel networks across Europe become increasingly complex and technology adoption lags behind compared to other regions, escalating passenger volume and insufficient infrastructure might contribute to the higher instances of mishandled baggage. However, Europe excels in processing and returning misplaced luggage efficiently.)
- Despite Europe's efforts to improve, the rate of mishandled baggage continues to be significantly higher compared to regions like North America and Asia-Pacific, with Europe's 2023 rate (eight bags per 1,000 passengers) being less than half of North America's and one-quarter of Asia-Pacific's.
- The financial impact of delayed baggage is substantial, with the transport industry collectively spending around $5 billion annually due to the associated costs of courier services, compensation, and lost revenues from damaged or stolen bags, as reported by Sita.
