Passenger-authorised location sharing from mobile platforms can now be used within airline baggage tracing systems

GENEVA, 3 MARCH 2026 – SITA has integrated the share item location capability from Google’s Find Hub into WorldTracer, enabling passenger-authorised bag location data to be used within airline baggage recovery systems.

The integration allows airlines to view location information shared by passengers directly within WorldTracer, the system widely used across the aviation industry to track delayed and mishandled baggage.

PASSENGER-SHARED DATA ADDS VISIBILITY TO BAGGAGE RECOVERY

When passengers choose to share the location of their bag through their personal devices, airline teams can access that information inside the WorldTracer system to assist with recovery.

Traditionally, locating delayed baggage has relied on airport baggage scans and data exchanges between airlines. The addition of passenger-authorised location sharing introduces an additional source of information, allowing airline teams to narrow search areas and prioritise cases when baggage does not arrive as expected.

PASSENGERS RETAIN CONTROL OF LOCATION SHARING

The location-sharing process remains controlled entirely by the passenger. If baggage is delayed, the traveller can generate a secure sharing link through Find Hub and provide it to the airline.

Passengers can stop sharing at any time, and links expire automatically. Location data is encrypted, and only the passenger determines who can access the information and for how long.

Nicole Hogg, Portfolio Director for Baggage at SITA, said passenger expectations for baggage visibility throughout the journey continue to increase.

She noted that when baggage is delayed, uncertainty can increase compensation costs, place pressure on customer service teams and create reputational risk for airlines. The use of passenger-authorised location data allows airlines to gain additional insight when resolving delayed baggage cases.

PART OF A BROADER MOVE TOWARD DATA SHARING

The integration reflects a broader shift within the aviation industry toward more open and secure data sharing across the travel ecosystem.

As airports, airlines and technology providers collaborate more closely, trusted data exchange is becoming an important component of improving operational performance and passenger experience.

According to the SITA 2025 Baggage IT Insights report, baggage mishandling rates have fallen by 67 percent over the past two decades, even as passenger volumes have more than doubled.

The report attributes this improvement to the adoption of more advanced baggage management systems and improved data use.

WorldTracer is currently used by more than 500 airlines and ground handlers across approximately 2,800 airports worldwide. By incorporating secure location sharing from widely used consumer mobile platforms, the system aims to support a more connected and transparent approach to global baggage recovery.