AIRLINES LOST OR STOLE 15 MILLION BAGS IN EUROPE IN 2024: NEW DATA REVEALS

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND • Air travelers faced significant baggage woes in 2024, particularly in Europe, where an estimated 28 pieces of luggage went missing or were mishandled every minute. While global mishandling rates are improving, Europe continues to see nearly double the worldwide average, according to a new report from SITA.

Geneva, Switzerland, June 15, 2025 – 7:00 AM – Lost, stolen, or damaged luggage remains a significant concern for air travelers, especially in Europe, where approximately 28 bags per minute do not safely reach their rightful owners, according to the SITA report.

Key Takeaways from the Report

Scale of Mishandled Luggage

The report, also highlighted by Corriere, indicates that airlines handled a total of 5.3 billion passengers globally in 2024. This figure represents an 8.2% increase from the previous period and a sharp rise compared to the COVID-19 years. Consequently, there was a greater volume of luggage to manage, from check-in to final delivery at the destination airport. However, not all deliveries had a happy ending: 33.4 million bags were recorded as "mishandled."

Improving Trends, Europe Still High

Despite the large numbers, the rate of mishandled bags is continuously decreasing, falling from 6.9 per thousand passengers in 2023 to 6.3 in 2024. SITA reports a "67% improvement compared to 2007." However, Europe stands above the global average, with nearly double the rate: last year, in the Old Continent, 12.3 checked bags per thousand passengers experienced an issue. This equates to approximately 15 million pieces of luggage, according to Corriere. While still substantial, this percentage is lower than the 26% in 2007 and 15.7% in 2022.

Fate of Mishandled Bags

So, what happens to the 33 million lost or damaged bags? SITA notes that over two-thirds (22 million) "were found within 48 hours, demonstrating the industry's ability to quickly reunite passengers with their bags." However, this means the remaining third, estimated at around 11 million, is either recovered after more than two days or lost forever.

Lavorel (SITA): "Industry in Constant Transformation"

"In air transport, transformation isn't a phase; it's the norm. The industry is constantly evolving, driven by technology, passenger expectations, and global changes," stated David Lavorel, CEO of SITA. "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 simple and transparent as using a ride-sharing or delivery app. It's no longer just about moving bags, but about offering a seamless, connected journey. Airlines are ready to leverage technologies that enhance the passenger experience while reducing costs and simplifying implementation. Together with our partners, we are rethinking baggage management to offer passengers full visibility and control from departure to arrival, providing them peace of mind and making travel simpler and better."

Primary Issues and Causes

The report found that delayed bags remain the most common problem, accounting for 74% of total cases, down from 80% the previous year. Lost or stolen bags represent 8% of the total, while damaged or pilfered bags increased to 18%, up 3% from 15% in 2023. Mishandling during transfers was identified as the most significant contributing factor, with an incidence of 41%, an improvement from 46% the previous year.

Baggage Tracking and Passenger Confidence

In 2024, 42% of passengers had access to real-time updates on bag location, up from 38% the previous year. According to the research, almost half of travelers stated that mobile tracking would increase their confidence in checking bags, and 38% appreciated the addition of digital identification tags.

Airline and Airport Services

Consequently, 66% of airlines offer automated bag delivery service, and another 16% plan to do so by 2027. Regarding airports, 65% plan to implement a biometric self-service bag drop system by the same year.

Hogg (SITA): "Baggage Still Causes Stress"

"We are making progress, but baggage continues to cause stress," affirmed Nicole Hogg, Head of Baggage at SITA. "Passengers want reassurance. The future of baggage is rapidly evolving with automation, computer vision, and mobile tools; we are making the experience much more reliable."