SITA and IDEMIA expand collaboration to transform baggage handling for airports
December 5, 2024
Following their initial collaboration earlier this year, SITA and IDEMIA are now strengthening their partnership to tackle key challenges in baggage handling.
The expanded collaboration builds on an initial agreement to improve border management through enhanced digital travel credentials and biometric solutions.
As passenger numbers continue to surge, the air transport industry faces “unprecedented challenges,” according to Nicole Hogg, portfolio director, Baggage at SITA.
“Airports and airlines are struggling to keep pace with this growth, particularly when it comes to baggage handling. Delays, mishandling, and inefficiencies sill pose significant operational bottlenecks impacting both the passenger experience and airport resources,” she continued.
“This is why our partnership with IDEMIA is so crucial. By integrating computer vision into baggage processing, we are tackling these challenges head-on.”
SITA also underlined that while baggage mishandling rates decreased from 7.6 to 6.9 per 1,000 passengers in 2023, the collaboration with IDEMIA will enable better tracking of bags from check-in to final destination, therefore reducing the risk of lost or delayed luggage.
With 85% of airports introducing self-bag drop technology and 32% of passengers now using mobile phones for baggage collection updates, the wider roll out of computer vision in baggage handling will also help reduce human error and enhance the speed and accuracy of baggage delivery.
Emphasising IDEMIA’s strong legacy with biometrics and decades of computer vision expertise, Gaurav Gupta, SVP and global head of sales, travel and transport for IDEMIA referenced the development of its AI-driven baggage image matching solutions, the Augmented Luggage Identification Experience (ALIX). Now, she explained the expanded collaboration will enable both companies to “redefine baggage processing within airports, improving airline operations, reducing baggage mishandling and improving the customer experience.”
