Differing opinions on baggage-microchips
Bickering airline organisations on either side of the Atlantic are reportedly holding up plans to introduce baggage tracking systems to end the misery of lost and delayed luggage.
According to a report in The Times, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents 270 airlines, wants to introduce the use of microchipped luggage at 10 airports this year – a system it claims will halve the number of “mishandled” bags.
But the US Transportation Security Administration reportedly wants to use a cheaper and less advanced version of the system.
The more advanced chips would be able to be encoded with more information, The Times reports, including the final destination of the bag, and the airport where it will be transferred.
US carriers are reportedly concerned that the chips will cost as much as 20p each.
One US official is quoted as saying: “They want to get the Gettysburg Address on the tag when all we really need is to give it a unique number.”
IATA reportedly countered: “It would be a constraint to global acceptance is the Americans didn’t accept the same technology as everyone else.”
The newspaper reports that airlines will meet on January 17 to discuss a compromise.
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025