Some interesting lost luggage facts

Lost luggage fact file
• 29.44million bags were mishandled globally during 2010 – an average of more than 80,000 items were day, according to the Air Transport Industry Baggage Report
• 1.2 bags were mishandled for every 100 travellers
• Bags were most likely to be mishandled at European airports, a factor partially attributed to the disruption and flight cancellations caused by the Iceland volcano
• 51% of the mishandled luggage was linked to transfers
• 14% failed to load
• The number of bags that were never recovered increased slightly during 2010
• While most luggage is reunited with its rightful owner, unclaimed luggage is sometimes auctioned or sold
• In the US, Alabama’s Unclaimed Baggage Centre specialises in selling unclaimed luggage and is now considered one of the state’s largest tourist attractions

Source: 2011 Air Transport Industry (ATI) Baggage Report