Airlines

Which Airlines mishandled the most Luggage in 2023?

In the dynamic world of air travel, luggage handling remains a critical aspect of passenger experience. As airlines strive for efficiency and customer satisfaction, the issue of lost luggage continues to be a significant concern.

In 2023, several airlines faced challenges in this area, prompting a closer look at which carriers experienced the highest incidents of lost luggage.

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The U.S. Department of Transportation released rankings for the largest domestic airline carriers and revealed exactly how many bags they mishandled. Find out which airlines topped the list for losing the most luggage in 2023.

Airline	Total Bags Enplaned	Number of Bags Mishandled	Percent Bags Mishandled
Allegiant Air	5,603,251	10,590	0.18%
Endeavor Air	8,507,004	34,589	0.41%
Southwest Airlines	129,704,856	587,339	0.45%
Delta Air Lines	80,022,632	394,386	0.49%
Hawaiian Airlines	6,062,604	30,003	0.49%
Frontier Airlines	9,368,960	48,234	0.51%
Jetblue Airways	15,303,556	79,957	0.52%
Spirit Airlines	12,935,699	68,006	0.53%
Skywest Airlines	26,128,627	139,299	0.53%
Alaska Airlines	22,215,385	131,551	0.59%
PSA Airlines	10,481,002	63,756	0.61%
Republic Airways	8,348,934	55,567	0.67%
Envoy Air	8,178,974	58,680	0.72%
United Airlines	55,951,329	412,601	0.74%
American Airlines	71,211,818	582,499	0.82%

US DOT

American Airlines had the highest rate of mishandled baggage, losing or damaging over eight bags per 1,000 checked.

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In contrast, Allegiant Air claimed the top, with only two bags per 1,000 affected. Southwest Airlines, handling over 130 million bags in 2023, experienced nearly 588,000 mishandled bags, equating to about 0.45%.

Spirit Airlines had the highest mishandling rate, losing or damaging more than five bags per 100 checked. Most airlines consider a bag lost if it remains unclaimed between five and 14 days after the flight.

Airlines

Sanctions & Engine Issues Ground Half of Russia’s A320neo fleet

Russia’s aviation sector, already strained by Western sanctions, faces another setback as nearly half of its Airbus A320neo family aircraft are grounded due to unresolved engine issues.

This development highlights the growing challenges for russia commercial aircraft in maintaining their fleets under the weight of global restrictions and limited access to spare parts.

Out of the 66 Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets in Russia, 34 are now out of service, according to the Kommersant business newspaper. These planes are powered by engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation.

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The engines are affected by a previously identified defect in the metal used for certain parts, prompting accelerated inspections and maintenance.

Sanctions have compounded the issue, blocking the supply of essential components from major manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. Without proper maintenance, experts warn that these aircraft may face decommissioning as early as 2026.

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Airlines like S7, which operates a significant portion of these grounded jets, plan to conserve the engines for future use during peak travel seasons. However, reports suggest that over 20 of S7’s Airbus planes have engines that have already reached the end of their operational lifespan. Recently, russia seeks assistance from kazakhstan’s airlines to bolster its domestic flights.

While some A320neo and A321neo planes in Russia are equipped with French-made LEAP engines, which are seen as less problematic, the challenges remain daunting.

The situation underscores the long-term impact of sanctions on Russia’s aviation sector and the increasing difficulties in keeping its modern fleets operational.