Bag tracking to save airlines $3 billion

The global deployment of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, which can accurately track passengers’ baggage in real time across key points in the journey, can enable the air transport industry to save more than $3 billion over the next seven years.

Global IT provider SITA and IATA revealed that the highly accurate tracking rates of RFID technology could reduce the number of mishandled bags by as much as 25% by 2022, mainly through efficient tracking.

In particular, RFID will address mishandling during transfer from one flight to another by ensuring that airports, airlines, and ground handlers are able to keep track of bags at every step of the journey. The technology supports IATA’s Resolution 753 that requires airlines to track each item of checked baggage, at key points in the journey, by 2018.