Managing the movement of millions of bags through an airport requires precise coordination and robust systems. Delays or mishandling can cause significant operational hassle, leading to lost luggage, delayed flights, and unhappy passengers – that’s why it’s vital to have a cutting edge BRS.
As such, efficient baggage handling systems are crucial to maintaining smooth operations – and airports worldwide are taking note. The global airport baggage handling software market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 6.67% between now and 2032. Up from USD 7.3 billion in 2023, it’s expected to be worth USD 13.5 billion by the end of that period.
In this article, we’ll look at some challenges that baggage handlers face and how cutting edge BRS solutions from Zafire help minimise lost luggage rates.
The Challenges of Modern Baggage Handling
In the U.S., the average rate of delayed bags in Q1 2022 was 6.4 per 1,000 bags, up from 3.9 per 1,000 in Q1 2021. This data was from the U.S. Office of Aviation Consumer Protection; data from SITA reported a higher rate: 7.6 per 1,000. The total for that quarter, according to SITA, was 2.6 million.
Each step of the baggage handling process comes with its own set of challenges. According to data published through Statista, here’s the breakdown of why bags are usually delayed (based on 2020 figures):
- Transfer mishandling is responsible for 37% of delayed bags.
- Failure to load accounted for 20%.
- 19% was due to ticketing errors/bag switching/security reasons.
- Airport/customs, weather, and space – weight restrictions accounted for 10%.
- Tagging errors caused 6% of delays.
- Arrival errors accounted for 5%.
- And finally, loading errors were behind 4% of cases.
Let’s explore a few of these areas in more detail, along with some other common challenges in baggage handling operations.
Baggage Screening
Delays can occur at security and customs checks, especially if manual inspections are required. Moving luggage to holding areas for extra checks increases the risk of mishandling.
Compliance with International Regulations
Compliance with a range of international regulations on baggage handling requires a meticulous approach. The integration of different systems plays a big part in making sure the right people have the right information at the right time – and the added efficiency this brings makes compliance much easier.
On the contrary, using disjointed systems reduces oversight and makes operations more difficult on all fronts.
Time Pressures
Every part of the process must be done on a tight schedule; this further emphasises the importance of having the right systems in place. Inefficiencies also create stress and fatigue for workers, increasing the risk of human errors.
How FIRST bag Transforms Baggage Handling
In response to these challenges, we developed FIRST bag, a state-of-the-art, web-based baggage reconciliation system.
FIRST bag enhances visibility and integrates previously disconnected systems and processes. This allows for real-time data sharing and streamlined operations, reducing delays and improving efficiency on the whole.
Key Features
Real-Time Tracking and Visibility
Our airport baggage handling system provides real-time information for tracking every part of the process. For departures, users can view all baggage information for outgoing flights on one screen, which includes the loading progress for open flights as well as transfer information.
Staff also have comprehensive information on incoming flights; comparing this with details on departures, they can prevent potential misconnections.
Passenger App
It’s not just staff that are kept informed. Our passenger status update app enables customers to track the whereabouts of their luggage in real-time. It also provides flight updates, flight history details, and lists which carousal to collect from, with an ETA.
This is especially helpful in larger, busier airports; after all, the last thing anyone wants to do after a long day of travel is to navigate through crowds to find the baggage claim display.
In the unlikely event that luggage is mishandled, the app has several tools to ensure it is delivered with minimal hassle. All in all, it gives customers the assurance they need to travel with ease, enhancing passenger satisfaction.
Search
A broad range of search criteria can be used to find information on baggage – whether historical or current details. This reduces the time taken to find critical information when time is of the essence.
Reflighting
Reflighing helps automate the process of reconnecting passengers with their luggage by efficiently re-routing them via the original or alternative airline.
It records reasons for misconnections as well as any actions taken, and offers features like bag room viewing, instant IATA ROL allocation, and batch processing of misconnected bags. Detailed reporting gives insights into potential future improvements.
Transfer Optimisation
The Transfer Optimisation module streamlines the interline bag management process. It uses industry-standard messaging (BSM and BMM), as well as web-based and mobile technology to optimise baggage movement, vehicle tracking, and resource planning.
With live tracking via the ‘Bag Journey’ screen, automated alerts, and a live SLA dashboard, the module improves visibility and minimises the impact on service levels. It also helps with prioritisation, identifying time-critical or ‘hot’ bags versus ‘dead’ bags that need re-flighting. Drivers can be automatically re-routed, while managers can access escalation and override functionality.
Reporting
The solution comes with a suite of standard and custom reports for analysing performance data. These tools help managers monitor operations, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions to enhance efficiency and service quality.
What’s more, all processes generate detailed audit trails, ensuring that your operations are compliant and minimising the risk of penalties.
Automatic Status Alerts
FIRST bag provides automatic status alerts to baggage handlers, ensuring that any issues are promptly addressed. This proactive approach reduces delays and improves overall service quality.
More Benefits
Here are some more of the tangible operational benefits that FIRST bag gives you:
- Instant access: The system is accessible using secure HTTPS and/or intranet connections, ensuring that authorised personnel can monitor and manage baggage operations from anywhere, at any time.
- Mobile access: As well as the options above, FIRST bag lets you manage baggage handling from any location. The application is fully IATA 753 compliant and offers all the functionality of the desktop version.
- User experience: The intuitive design of FIRST bag means that minimal staff training is required, allowing for quick adoption and effective use.
- Full audit trail: Again, every action within the system is logged, providing a full audit trail. This is not only essential for compliance, but also for resolving any disputes or issues that arise.
Conclusion
The complexity of modern baggage handling demands advanced, reliable solutions. FIRST bag, our cutting edge BRS, is designed to tackle the challenges we’ve discussed, providing comprehensive tracking tools and improving efficiency at every stage of a bag’s journey.
It improves the customer experience – not only by minimising the risk of misplacement – but also through the status update app which keeps them informed at all times.
To take a closer look at how your organisation could benefit, contact us today to request a demo.
