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Delta promises end to lost luggage with RFID
And could save itself $100m a year

By Ron Coates

Published: Thursday 01 July 2004

US airline Delta is to use RFID to end the problem of lost luggage for its customers and save itself up to $100m.

The company announced that it is to spend between $15m and $25m to roll out an RFID system across its American network. When the system is installed, it will be able to track bags from check-in, where RFID tags will be attached, until they are dropped off at the baggage carousel at the customer's destination.

Delta ran a trial of the system earlier this year on flights from its base in Atlanta to Jacksonville and claims that it can track bags 100 per cent of the time. The company has suggested that it may later give customers the opportunity to track their own bags.

Tag readers will be located at check-in, along conveyer belts leading to baggage handlers and at the entrance to plane cargo holds. Delta hopes that the system will put an end to the 'Breakfast in New York; dinner in London; luggage in Bangkok' syndrome.

The airline currently misplaces four bags out of every thousand carried and has to spend $100m a year recovering and delivering them. The airline, like several US carriers, is struggling financially, so every little helps.

A number of other US airlines and airports have run trials on the use of RFID to track and control luggage, but Delta is the first to commit to their use. The Las Vegas airport, McCarran International, is to start using the tags this autumn.