Airlines reduce baggage loss by using new tech, report shows
Aviation technology company Sita said 33.4 million bags were mishandled in 2024, compared with 33.8 million during the previous year.
Given the 8.2% increase in passenger numbers, the rate of bags lost fell to 6.3 per 1,000 passengers, down from 6.9 in 2023.
This is a 67% drop since 2007.
Sita said airports and airlines are handling baggage with 'more precision' by using real-time tracking, AI-powered analytics and self-service systems.
The report stated that these advancements are 'no longer experimental, they are becoming standard and they are clearly having an effect'.
Sita chief executive David Lavorel said: 'We've seen a radical shift with automation and the widespread use of real-time tracking.
'Passengers now expect their baggage experience to be as easy and transparent as using a rideshare or delivery app.
'It's no longer just about moving bags, it's about delivering a smooth, connected journey.
'Airlines are ready to tap into technology that improves the passenger experience while keeping costs down and being simple to roll out.
'Together with our partners, we're reimagining baggage handling to give passengers full visibility and control from departure to arrival, giving them peace of mind and making travel simpler and better.'
Despite the improvement, lost bags cost the aviation industry an estimated five billion US dollars (£4.2 billion) last year from courier returns, customer service, claims handling and lost productivity.
Delays remained the most common baggage issue last year, accounting for 74% of mishandling incidents.
Of the 33.4 million mishandled bags, some 66% were 'resolved' within 48 hours, the report added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Trump to attend AI and energy summit in Pittsburgh
WASHINGTON, June 12 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump and executives from the tech and energy sectors will appear at an artificial intelligence and energy summit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on July 15, the office of the state's U.S. Senator Dave McCormick said on Thursday. McCormick's inaugural Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit will be held at Carnegie Mellon University, his office said in a statement. Axios reported that tech executives like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Meta Platforms (META.O), opens new tab CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab CEO Satya Nadella and Alphabet CEO (GOOGL.O), opens new tab Sundar Pichai were on the summit's guest list. Exxon Mobil (XOM.N), opens new tab CEO Darren Woods, Shell (SHEL.L), opens new tab CEO Wael Sawan and Chevron (CVX.N), opens new tab CEO Mike Wirth were also on that list, according to Axios. White House AI czar David Sacks, who is also expected to attend the summit, expressed concern earlier this week that regulating U.S. AI too tightly could stifle growth and cede the critical market to China. The comments indicated the Republican president's approach to AI could be centered on expanding markets abroad for U.S. AI chips and models. Democratic former President Joe Biden had emphasized policies that countered risks the chips could be diverted to China and used to bolster Beijing's military. A group of 40 state attorneys general, including Republicans from Ohio, Tennessee, Arkansas, Utah and Virginia and other states, have pushed back against Republican attempts to block states from regulating AI, saying states should develop and enforce common-sense regulation to protect consumers.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
AI companies could soon be protected from most lawsuits under new GOP bill
Artificial intelligence companies could be protected from mistakes their software makes as long as they abide by specific disclosure requirements under a new bill put forward by a Republican senator. The proposed bill aims to ensure professionals such as doctors, lawyers, financial advisers, engineers and who use AI programs retain legal liability if their work contains errors. However, AI developers would need to publicly state how their systems work. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming introduced the legislation on Thursday, dubbed the 'Responsible Innovation and Safe Expertise Act.' It would be the first of its kind if it passes, the senator's office said. The bill would not apply to self-driving vehicles or developers who act recklessly or engage in misconduct, according to NBC News. 'This legislation doesn't create blanket immunity for AI — in fact, it requires AI developers to publicly disclose model specifications so professionals can make informed decisions about the AI tools they choose to utilize,' the senator's office said in a statement to the outlet. 'It also means that licensed professionals are ultimately responsible for the advice and decisions they make. This is smart policy for the digital age that protects innovation, demands transparency, and puts professionals and their clients first.' Other lawmakers are working to jump ahead of the liability curb when it comes to businesses implementing artificial intelligence. States are working to apply standards, but part of President Donald Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill' includes a clause barring them from doing so for at least 10 years. Last week, Senate Republicans suggested changing the clause to block federal funding for broadband projects to states that regulate AI, NBC News reported. Lawmakers across the aisle have previously opposed banning states from passing regulations throughout the next decade. As the AI race continues, tech CEOs have warned that enacting such policies could prevent further advancements.
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Historic Brit clothes shop beloved by the Royal Family which supplied Europe's top fashion houses is forced to close
ROYAL SHAME Historic Brit clothes shop beloved by the Royal Family which supplied Europe's top fashion houses is forced to close A HISTORIC British clothing store once beloved by the Royal Family and known for supplying Europe's top fashion houses has shut down for good—leaving 28 people out of work. Otterburn Mills, based in Otterburn, Northumberland, with a second store in Rothbury, has gone into liquidation following a series of financial blows. 4 The business was further hit by the sudden loss of a key supplier, soaring operating costs Credit: Otterburn Mill 4 Those affected are now being supported with access to the Redundancy Payments Service Credit: Otterburn Mill The 18th-century mill-turned-retail business struggled to recover after the Covid pandemic, with shop visitor numbers failing to return to pre-2020 levels. The business was further hit by the sudden loss of a key supplier, soaring operating costs, and a shift in consumer shopping habits away from the high street. The company, which famously made a pram rug for Queen Elizabeth II in 1926, had recently been put up for sale. However, no buyer could be found, and business recovery experts FRP were brought in to oversee the winding down of operations. FRP confirmed that the company has ceased trading and 28 employees have been made redundant. Those affected are now being supported with access to the Redundancy Payments Service. Antonya Allison, joint liquidator and director at FRP, said: 'Otterburn Mills was a well-known and respected local business that had built a loyal customer base over many years. Unfortunately, the retailer was faced with an array of challenging headwinds that many high-street brands will recognise and, despite our best efforts to identify it has not been possible to find a viable way forward for the business. Our focus is now on supporting those affected and working to ensure the best possible outcome for creditors through the liquidation process.' The business also had debts owed to HMRC. We live next to a Sainsbury's where 'defeaning' building work is ruining our lives – we haven't slept for a week FRP added that it is 'working with all stakeholders to ensure an orderly wind down of the business and to maximise returns for creditors.' Otterburn Mills rose to prominence under William Waddell, the son of a Borders wool manufacturer, and built a reputation for its tweeds and woven fabrics. These high-quality materials were once used by major European fashion houses including Dior and Balmain. The site was transformed into a retail clothing store in the 1990s by Euan Pringle, who preserved much of the original mill machinery as part of the shop's heritage display. The closure adds to a growing list of British retail losses in recent months. The Original Factory Shop has begun closing down sales at several branches across Worcestershire, Dorset, Durham and other parts of the UK, as part of its wider restructuring. Poundland, recently sold to a US-based firm for just £1, is facing the potential closure of around 100 of its 800 UK shops, with job losses expected. House of Fraser is also shutting down its Worcester city centre store, where a 20 per cent off closing down sale has already begun ahead of its final trading day in September. Meanwhile, fashion chain River Island is drawing up a radical rescue plan to avoid collapse, which includes shutting some stores. Its Banbury branch is set to close at the end of June, and more may follow as the retailer attempts to recover from a £33.2 million loss last year. Industry experts say these closures reflect broader trends, including rising energy bills, business rates, and staffing costs. Many shoppers have moved online or prefer to visit large retail parks over traditional town centres. The Centre for Retail Research has warned that more than 17,000 UK stores could shut their doors in 2025, putting up to 202,000 retail jobs at risk. The loss of Otterburn Mills, a once-thriving symbol of British textile heritage, underlines the deepening crisis for both independent shops and national retail chains across the UK. Without meaningful support or change in consumer habits, more historic names could be lost from the high street for good. RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs would cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research published by the British Chambers of Commerce earlier this year shows that more than half of companies planned to raise prices by early April. Separately, the Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020." 4 Many shoppers have moved online or prefer to visit large retail parks over traditional town centres Credit: Otterburn Mill
