Japanese airport hasn’t lost a single luggage in 30 years; here’s how to have a smooth air travel experience

The Kansai International Airport (KIX) in Japan is celebrating a remarkable achievement — it has never lost a single piece of luggage in its 30-year history! This means that every bag that passengers entrust to the airport’s care has always been safely delivered to its destination.

For this outstanding accomplishment, KIX was awarded the prestigious Skytrax award for the World’s Best Airport for Baggage Delivery in 2024, according to a report by NDTV.

In a press release, the airport said, “We believe that the record of having no baggage lost since the opening of the airport is the result of the daily efforts and careful work of everyone involved, including airlines and handling companies.”

Since opening its doors in Osaka in 1994, Kansai Airport has been serving millions of passengers every year. Despite this large volume of travellers, it has maintained a flawless record when it comes to handling luggage. The airport’s success is attributed to the dedicated efforts of its staff, airlines, and handling companies, who work tirelessly to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of passengers’ belongings.

D K Ghatani, CEO, Sikkim trek and expeditions, hails this remarkable achievement, adding that airports in India and across the world can learn from it. “By focusing on these detailed logistics and handling strategies, airports worldwide can aim to replicate the success of Kansai International Airport, enhancing both operational efficiency and passenger satisfaction,” he remarks. 

Tips for passengers for packing and labelling bags to minimise the risk of mishap

Ghatani suggests passengers to take care of the following before travelling by air:

Double tagging

Ensure each bag has two tags—one outside and a backup inside. This helps if the external tag is damaged or lost.

Distinctive markings

Use distinctive luggage tags or decorations to make your bag stand out. This reduces the chance of someone accidentally taking your luggage

Smart luggage tags

Consider using smart luggage tags with GPS or Bluetooth technology. These can be tracked via smartphone apps.

Detailed contact information

Besides your name, include multiple contact methods like phone, email, and address. This helps in quicker identification and recovery if misplaced.

“It will be helpful to develop algorithms to optimise the route of each piece of luggage from the plane to the baggage claim area to minimise delays,” suggests D K Ghatani, CEO, Sikkim trek and expeditions (Source: Freepik)

How airports can enhance passenger experience

Ghatani suggests airports implement a unified communication platform where all teams (ground handlers, security, airline staff) can update and access real-time information about luggage status.

“Airlines and airports should conduct regular training sessions and simulations for all staff to practice efficient luggage handling and problem-solving in teamwork scenarios.”

Establishing clear feedback mechanisms between different teams to continually improve coordination and address any systemic issues quickly is important as well, he says.

Steps airlines and airports can incorporate into to minimise waiting times at airports

First of all, Ghatani recommends that airports need to invest in high-speed automated baggage handling systems that use barcodes or RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology for tracking.

“It will be helpful to develop algorithms to optimise the route of each piece of luggage from the plane to the baggage claim area to minimise delays. Passengers should also be provided with real-time updates on their luggage status through mobile apps.

Airports must ensure that baggage handling systems are scalable to handle peak volumes efficiently. Early bag drop should be encouraged to spread the luggage arrival times and reduce congestion, Ghatani explains, along with an increase in staffing levels during peak times to ensure that all processes from check-in to baggage claim run smoothly.

Enhancing the baggage claim experience

To minimise passenger anxiety and ensure satisfaction after lost luggage incidents, airlines should implement a comprehensive lost baggage response plan. Ghatani suggests that this plan should include:

*Speed of delivery: Continuously monitor and strive to shorten the time it takes for luggage to reach the baggage claim area.

*Clear signage: Provide clear, multilingual signage to direct passengers easily from their gates to the baggage claim areas.

*Helpful staff: Ensure that staff are available, visible, and trained to assist with queries and issues in the baggage claim area.

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