IATA’s Resolution 753 (effective June 2018) mandates that airlines track each bag at four points: acceptance (check-in), loading onto the flight, transfer loading, and arrival delivery. This “four-point tracking” creates visibility on every checked bag throughout its journey. In practice, implementing 753 means baggage must be scanned (or otherwise acknowledged) at every stage, and tracking messages exchanged with all interline partners. The goal is to reduce mishandling and speed up recovery.
Current adoption status: As of mid-2024, global adoption remains a work in progress. IATA surveys report 44% of airlines have fully implemented 753 with baggage messages, and another 41% are “in progress” (worldairnews.co.za). However, Africa lags other regions: only 27% of African carriers had fully implemented the tracking requirements, according to IATA (worldairnews.co.za), compared to 88% in North Asia and 60% in the Americas. This gap reflects Africa’s mix of large flag carriers and many smaller/low-cost airlines. Airports too must be ready; IATA found about 75% of airports worldwide can support 753 tracking (higher for mega hubs, lower for medium airports) (worldairnews.co.za), but many African airports may need upgrades.
For the top African airlines, implementation varies:
- Ethiopian Airlines: As Africa’s largest carrier and Star Alliance member, Ethiopian has robust baggage processes. It participates in the Star Alliance baggage tracking system (flight-connected tracking for member carriers) and likely meets 753 requirements. Ethiopian has not publicly announced a tracking app, but its alliance partners (e.g. Lufthansa) use automated systems, suggesting Ethiopian’s ground ops are aligned. A published report notes Ethiopian’s commitment to “digital transformation” (though not 753-specific) and it is reasonable to assume Ethiopian has scanned bags at all four points as required.
- EgyptAir and Air Cairo: EgyptAir (Star Alliance) launched a mobile baggage tracking app in August 2024, letting passengers monitor bag status in real time on EgyptAir and Star Alliance itineraries (egyptindependent.com). This is a clear sign of advanced 753 implementation: it scans bags into EgyptAir’s system and syncs with partners’ data to update passengers. Its subsidiary Air Cairo (primarily charter) would use the same infrastructure. EgyptAir’s app uses automated bag-scanning notifications, so EgyptAir has effectively achieved the tracking steps mandated by 753. According to IATA, EgyptAir was among the least punctual airlines, but its baggage tracking launch shows progress in digital baggage handling.
- Air Algerie: Not an alliance member, but a large national carrier, Air Algerie is an IATA member and AFRAA airline. Details on its 753 implementation are scarce, but it likely adheres to tracking requirements at its main hub (Algiers). Many interline partners (e.g. Air France) would also push Air Algerie to scan bags at all points. Given Air Algerie’s recent growth and fleet modernization, it probably has implemented basic tracking scans, though no public statement was found.
- Safair (Pty) Ltd: Safair (operating mainly domestic S. Africa flights) is part of the Comair group. It is not a Star or Oneworld member, but it is IATA-registered. Safair’s published baggage policies show liability rules but do not detail its scanning process. Safair likely does basic tracking: at least scanning at origin and delivery. Because it has few transfers (mostly nonstop flights), its focus would be on quick resolution of local baggage issues. Safair has one of the world’s best on-time flight records, implying tight ground ops, but no specific mention of 753 was found. (In practice, Safair must scan each bag at check-in and delivery to comply with global baggage norms, even if “753” isn’t cited.)
- Royal Air Maroc (RAM): As a Oneworld member, RAM is required to implement global standards for baggage. Its website provides a WorldTracer interface for delayed baggage (royalairmaroc.com), indicating it is integrated into IATA’s tracking network. RAM’s self-service baggage drop and check-in kiosks at Casablanca and other hubs likely include baggage tag scanning. While there’s no press release on 753, being an alliance airline implies RAM scans bags at all four points in practice. Customers can file lost-bag reports online, and RAM must feed that info into the global system. So RAM effectively operates a 753-compliant process.
- Airlink: A South African regional carrier (former part of South African Airways group, now linked to Air France-KLM), Airlink may not have its own alliance membership, but it interlines with many partners. Airlink’s website has a baggage page but no mobile tracker. It likely uses standard baggage handling: scanning at departure and delivery. Given Airlink’s smaller scale and short routes, transfers are less of an issue. No explicit reference was found about 753, so Airlink may still be working through implementation, especially for any code-share interlines.
- Kenya Airways: A SkyTeam (formerly Star) affiliate, Kenya operates digital “Track and Trace” for baggage on its site (kenya-airways.com). It provides WorldTracer (IATA) for delayed bags and collects BAGTAG scans. Notably, Kenya advertises Central Baggage Tracing personnel in job listings (myjobmag.co.ke), confirming it has a full tracing office. Kenya’s significant international network (especially through Nairobi) pushes it toward full 753 compliance. It has not publicized an app, but given its alliance ties, we infer Kenya is meeting the tracking requirements.
- Air Peace: Nigeria’s largest private carrier, Air Peace, is not an IATA member airline (it flies domestic and a few regional routes). It does sell interline tickets, which require some level of tracing. Air Peace’s focus has been on fleet expansion and network, not technology press releases. Its website has lost-baggage forms but no visible real-time tracker or mention of 753. It may not be fully 753-compliant yet; if it upgraded its check-in and baggage systems, it could scan bags, but no public data is available. Air Peace is likely still in “progress” on 753.
- Tunisair: The national carrier of Tunisia and Oneworld associate (through partner Air France/KLM), Tunisair participates in global baggage networks. Its website and communications advise filing with a WorldTracer system. No announcement of 753 exists, but as an established network carrier, Tunisair undoubtedly scans bags at check-in and arrival (the first and last 753 points). Connectivity with partners like AF, TK, Lufthansa suggests it is on track.
Challenges faced: African airlines have encountered several obstacles in implementing 753. A key issue is the legacy messaging system: many carriers still use IATA “Type B” baggage messages, which are expensive and rigid. IATA notes that this old infrastructure “high cost adversely affects implementation and contributes to message quality issues” (iata.org). In other words, airlines must exchange baggage data via antiquated channels that make tracking harder. Upgrading to modern XML messaging (an IATA-led initiative) is in progress, but not complete. Another challenge is ground operations: 753 requires every bag to be scanned at every transfer point. This means retraining staff, installing scanners or RFID readers at gates and transfer desks, and ensuring consistent procedures. Some African airports and handlers may be under-resourced for this level of process control. Budget constraints also matter: buying new scanning equipment or RFID tags costs money, which can be significant for cash-strapped carriers.
Impacts and operational changes: For those airlines that have advanced in tracking, the benefits are clear. Better scanning and data exchange mean bags that miss a flight can be automatically identified and rerouted. IATA’s Director of Ground Ops emphasizes that “tracking bags throughout the journey reduces mishandlings and enables airlines to reunite mishandled bags with their owners more efficiently” (capitalethiopia.com). For example, EgyptAir’s real-time app not only satisfies 753 but also lets customers watch their bag’s status, cutting inquiry calls. More broadly, airlines implementing 753 report reductions in lost-bag inquiries and faster resolution. The IATA survey notes that with 44% of airlines fully implementing tracking, passenger confidence grows that “their bags will be at the carousel on arrival” (capitalethiopia.com).
On operations, airlines have had to add scans at check-in counters, gate loaders, transfer belts, etc. This has sometimes slowed processing during implementation, but ultimately streamlines baggage flow. Many carriers note improved baggage turnaround once systems stabilize. Customer service has also changed: apps and messaging alerts (like EgyptAir’s app) can notify passengers immediately of bag loading or rerouting, a big improvement over “call the lost baggage office” of the past.
Successes and progress: EgyptAir’s recent tracking app is a high-profile success story (egyptindependent.com). Other carriers have quietly met 753: for instance, all Star Alliance carriers (Ethiopian, Kenya, EgyptAir) share a standardized baggage tracking network, so their customers can track through partners. African alliance hubs (Addis, Nairobi, Cairo) have invested in self-service bag drops and automated sorting that facilitate easier scanning. While detailed data is scant, anecdotal reports suggest mishandled bags have dropped as tracking improved. Globally, SITA reports the mishandling rate fell from 7.6 to 6.9 per 1,000 in 2023, indicating industry progress. African airlines contribute to this trend as they adopt better tech.
Emerging trends and innovations: Several innovations are reshaping baggage tracking. First, RFID tagging is gaining traction: an RFID chip in a bag tag can be read without line-of-sight, increasing scan reliability. SITA notes that RFID scanning has been implemented at 27% of surveyed airports (54% of mega airports) (worldairnews.co.za). While still rare in Africa today, airports like Johannesburg and Cairo are evaluating RFID systems. Second, digital (paperless) bag tags are emerging worldwide. These allow passengers to print tags at home and scan them through processes, reducing lost tags. Third, mobile and biometric linking are on the rise: some airlines are experimenting with electronic bag tags and using passenger biometrics (fingerprint/face) at check-in to match bags to customers. Fourth, data-sharing platforms like SITA BagManager (deployed widely in India) have cut mishandling by ~20% through better collaboration (sita.aero); similar cloud-based tools could help African carriers share bag info with handlers.
Finally, blockchain and IoT trackers are nascent trends. In other regions, prototypes use blockchain to create an immutable record of a bag’s journey, or GPS/Bluetooth trackers inside luggage that passengers control. While these are not yet mainstream in Africa, tech-savvy carriers and startups are watching these developments. For now, African airlines are mainly focused on fully implementing 753 and rolling out mobile tracking apps (like EgyptAir). Once that baseline is met, we expect to see gradual adoption of RFID and other tech as infrastructure and budgets allow.
In summary, African carriers are moving steadily toward full 753 compliance. The largest airlines have made concrete steps (apps, systems integration) to track bags end-to-end. However, challenges remain – legacy systems, funding, and training – meaning that some carriers are still “in progress” on tracking. The outlook is positive: with IATA’s support and clear benefits achieved elsewhere, we should see continued improvements in baggage visibility and fewer lost bags across Africa’s top airlines.
