More than 2.2 billion euros have sunk in one year somewhere at international airports in the form of lost luggage, and foreign travelers are the most affected by such misfortunes, according to data on the site "MoneyTransfers.com", cited by the economic publication Boursier .com

Luggage is 4.7 times more likely to be lost on international flights than on domestic flights.

Per 1,000 passengers, 8.7 pieces of luggage are lost on international flights - almost double the 4.35 pieces of luggage on domestic flights.

The total cost of lost or damaged luggage is also higher on international flights as passengers carry more items on longer journeys.

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International baggage crisis

According to a report by the international technology company for services in the aviation sector (SITA), the multiplication of air travel in 2021, when passengers were 2.28 billion (and they are expected to be even more in 2022), was accompanied by from a 24 percent increase in lost and damaged baggage.

In 2012, the bag handling error rate averaged 4.35 bags per 1,000 passengers, or a total of 9.9 million bags.

It is estimated that 6 percent of these bags are ultimately lost or stolen.

How much does an average suitcase cost?

According to a study by the public organization SNWM, the average value of a vacationer's suitcase is 3,824 euros.

Based on these data, MoneyTransfers has calculated that the total loss of baggage in air transport amounts to 2.2 billion euros per year.

And this amount will grow as travel increases after the pandemic.

Travel insurers usually cover the loss of luggage, but up to a value of around 1,800 euros.

It is still too early to get a clear picture of the situation in 2022. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that this year the number of international passengers is expected to reach 69 percent of the level in 2019, an increase of 42 per cent compared to 2021

The strong recovery in travel since the pandemic has caused massive traffic jams and difficulties finding ground staff.

Some airports have even canceled multiple flights in recent months, facing labor shortages.

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