Stories of reunion and heartbreak with lost luggage

THE airport - a bustling nexus of dreams and departures - can also be the site of emotional turmoil when luggage goes missing.

- LUTHO PASIYA

For countless passengers, the excitement of travel is often laced with anxiety about their bags.

While some stories celebrate joyous reunions, others reflect the heartbreak of lost belongings, highlighting the human experience that can easily get overlooked in the hustle and bustle of air travel.

According to recent findings from SITA, the world's leading specialist in air transport communications and information technology, 5.3 billion passengers travelled by air in 2024, marking an 8.2% increase from 2023.

As passenger numbers rose, so did the volume of checked luggage. How-ever, the global rate of mishandled luggage has seen significant improve-ment, dropping to 6.3 bags per 1 000 passengers, down from 6.9 in 2023.

Particularly in the Africa - Middle East region, the rate stood at an impressive 6.02 bags per 1000 passengers.

These statistics point towards a remarkable 67% improvement in luggage handling since 2007, showcasing the effectiveness of advanced technol-ogies such as SITA's WorldTracer.