India Explores Next Gen Baggage Biometrics as Air Travel Surges

SITA is in talks with Indian airlines and airports to introduce AI‑based baggage biometrics that identify bags without relying on tags. With India’s strong digital adoption and rising passenger volumes, the technology could further cut mishandling rates. Implementation will require major coordination and new camera infrastructure as the country expands its airport network.

Global aviation solutions firm SITA is in early talks with leading Indian airlines and airport operators about introducing an advanced baggage biometric system—an innovation currently being tested at major European hubs such as Frankfurt. The technology uses AI-driven image recognition to profile each piece of luggage by its unique physical traits, allowing it to be matched to a passenger’s booking even if conventional paper tags are torn off or rendered unreadable, a frequent cause of misrouted bags.

Sumesh Patel, SITA’s President for the Asia-Pacific region, noted that India’s rapid embrace of digital passenger processing, especially through the Digi Yatra platform, places it among the global frontrunners. He said passenger flow systems at Indian airports now rival those at some of the world’s busiest international gateways.

The push toward AI-enabled baggage identification comes amid a sustained industry-wide effort to limit mishandling. SITA reports that the global rate of misplaced bags has dropped dramatically over the past decade—from roughly 20 per 1,000 travelers to just over six—thanks to smarter tracking tools, automation, and real-time information exchange. Baggage biometrics aims to push this number even lower by reducing reliance on physical labels that often fail during tight aircraft connections.

At the same time, personal trackers such as Apple AirTags have elevated traveler expectations for instant location updates. SITA has already integrated AirTag data streams into airline systems, enabling passengers to securely share their luggage’s whereabouts with carriers and ground staff, which helps accelerate the recovery process when bags go missing.

Rolling out biometric baggage identification in India, however, will require unified investment and planning. The system depends on networks of high-resolution cameras positioned throughout baggage handling areas and must interface seamlessly with multiple airline IT platforms. Collaboration among airport authorities, carriers, and regulators will be essential for any large-scale implementation.

India, now the world’s third-largest aviation market with 411 million passengers annually, is expanding rapidly. SITA currently works with 61 airports across the country and is deploying cloud-based check‑in and baggage tools at dozens of Airports Authority of India facilities. Upcoming airports at Navi Mumbai and Jewar have been designed with scalable digital and biometric capabilities in mind, preparing the infrastructure for a future where technology plays a central role in managing the nation’s growing air travel demand.