Baggage Improvement Program (BIP)

Definition

The Baggage Improvement Program (BIP) was an IATA initiative undertaken between 2008 and 2012. The aim of the program was to reduce the rate of mishandled baggage by improving baggage processes to ensure passengers and their bags were reunited at their final destination. BIP provided the industry with solutions that addressed all causes of baggage mishandling. It has now come to its successful conclusion.

Achieved Program Target

• IATA achieved the target of conducting 80 one-to-one diagnosis visits and working with 120 airports participants on the Self-Help program
• During the execution of the program, baggage mishandling fell by 53.2%, above the 50% target set for the program

Key Program Elements

• Over those four years, BIP provided airlines, airports and ground handlers with tools to:
• Integrate systems to improve the flow of information between departure control and baggage systems
• Conduct employee training
• Give passenger education on baggage processes
• Track baggage at critical handling points
• Ensure messages needed to keep baggage flowing were available at the right time
• Prioritize time sensitive transfer baggage

Benefits

• Passengers: Receiving baggage upon arrival at destination
• Airlines: Improved baggage processes leading to reduced costs associated with baggage mishandling

Savings

• Industry mishandling has reduced significantly, and using an industry average figure of $100 per mishandled bag the industry has reduced costs by over $1.9 billion per annum
• BIP has contributed to a reduction in baggage mishandling from 18.99 bags in 1000 passengers (2007) to 8.99 passengers in 1000 passengers (2011)
  *SITA Baggage Report 2012 figures 

Next steps

BIP has now been successfully completed. However, baggage handling remains a crucial element of the air transport industry. In its continuous effort to improve services for passengers and lower costs for the industry, IATA has launched “Innovation in baggage” (InBAG). This new program aims to:

• Reduce mishandling further: in 2011, 1% bags were still mishandled, IATA wants to reduce this to 0.5% by 2016
• Improving efficiency: Generate better processes and better passenger proposition
• Enabling innovation: develop modern standards for baggage, thus enabling additional ancillary services
  

 

Updated: December 2012