RFID Baggage Tracking Mandate Takes Effect in 2020 as Airlines Target Lost Luggage

The International Air Transport Association requires RFID tags on all checked luggage from 2020 to reduce the 25.8 million bags lost or mishandled in 2018. DENSO WAVE EUROPE offers scanners designed for airport use.

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Starting in 2020, every checked suitcase must carry an RFID tag under a mandate from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), aiming to cut the number of bags that go missing. In 2018, 0.6 percent of 4.3 billion pieces of luggage were lost or mishandled, equivalent to 25.8 million items, according to IATA.

RFID technology provides more accurate scans than the barcodes currently used on luggage, according to Dirk Gelbrich, General Manager Technical Department at DENSO WAVE EUROPE, part of the Toyota group. He said that this precision allows airlines to intervene before bags are lost or mishandled.

To make the system work, IATA stresses the need for airports and ground crews to collaborate closely. Airports must incorporate RFID into their baggage handling systems and implement modern standard formats for the timely provision of the Baggage Source Message (BSM), which ensures each bag is clearly marked and identified. Ground personnel will also need to switch from manual tracking to RFID-based processes.

DENSO WAVE EUROPE has developed two RFID scanners from its UR20 series—the UR21 and UR22—for airport use. The UR21, with a scan distance of up to 80 centimeters, is designed for check-in counters. The UR22 can read tags from up to 2.6 meters away and is intended for stationary use in baggage handling. Gelbrich noted that the UR21 scans only tags in immediate proximity, avoiding interference from luggage farther away. The UR21 has a compact, ultra-thin design with eight adjustable range levels and an optional VESA mount. The UR22's circular polarized antenna allows omni-directional scanning, and its range can be adjusted to local conditions.

The company also recently launched the SP1 RFID scanner, which can add RFID capability to almost any smart device without requiring replacement of existing equipment. Gelbrich said the SP1 is nearly self-explanatory, saving time at busy check-in counters. However, continuous use of RFID devices can cause overheating and slower operation, a challenge common to such devices.