A Local Baggage Committee (LBC) is essentially the airport’s baggage “control tower.” It brings together representatives from airlines, ground handlers, and sometimes airport operations and government (customs/security) to manage baggage issues locally. IATA Resolution 744 explicitly calls for each airport handling interline (connecting) baggage to have an LBC (iata.org). According to IATA guidance, the LBC’s responsibilities include setting local procedures and targets – for example, minimum connection times for transferring bags (as agreed under Res. 765) (iata.org).
Key duties of the Local Baggage Committee include:
- Process Agreement: The LBC agrees on how bags should be handled step-by-step – who moves them, how often conveyors run, and what to do during delays or heavy traffic (iata.org). In other words, it coordinates the practical workflow at the airport.
- Establish Standards: The committee sets airport-specific rules like loading priorities, offload times, and minimum baggage connection windows (iata.org). These standards ensure that all airlines know the local system (e.g. “we need 45 minutes to transfer international bags”).
- Troubleshooting: When problems occur (e.g. a system breakdown or an airline’s service failure), the LBC investigates and proposes fixes. They also update procedures for future improvements.
- Data Sharing: The LBC may share statistics (mishandling rates, delays, etc.) so airlines and handlers can jointly improve performance.
- Communication with Users: Airlines are kept informed of any changes or incidents via the LBC, often through minutes or an Airline Operators’ Committee (AOC) briefing.
By design, the LBC operates by consensus and detailed by-laws (IATA RP 1744 outlines suggested rules for LBCs). The goal is transparency: rather than each airline doing its own thing, the LBC ensures everyone follows “one airport process.” For example, the guidance warns that “even with standards agreed… it is crucial that Local Baggage teams agree on how bags will be moved, how often, how fast and who will handle each step” (iata.org). In practice, this collaborative approach speeds up transfers and reduces mishandled bags, because all airlines and handlers are literally on the same page.
