NCAA to start real-time luggage tracking at Nigerian airports

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is planning to use Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to help track luggage checked by passengers at Nigerian airports.

This technology will let passengers see where their luggage is at all times, from check-in until they arrive at their destination, the NCAA said.

Michael Achimugu, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, shared this news on Tuesday. He mentioned that the authority has met with local airlines, aviation service providers, and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in Lagos to finalize plans for using RFID tags on luggage.

Mr Achimugu said this new system is expected to fix issues with baggage handling. This includes problems like luggage getting lost or arriving late. It will also help in addressing passenger complaints more effectively.

“This automation technology means that air passengers can track the location of their bags from check-in to arrival at destination, real time,” he explained.

How the technology will work

RFID uses electronic tags that scanners can read to identify and track items as they move through different points.

In the aviation industry, this technology can provide better information about how checked luggage moves through the baggage-handling system.

According to Mr Achimugu, this planned system will give passengers more insight into where their luggage is after check-in. It will also help airline operators spot where issues occur when bags are delayed, misrouted, or do not arrive with passengers.

He mentioned that while this technology is not new globally, it is being introduced in Nigeria for the first time.

“Although not novel globally, this is coming to Nigeria for the first time, and its proper implementation would guarantee greater efficiency in baggage handling, complaints resolution, and passenger satisfaction,” he noted.

Why baggage tracking matters

This move comes after many complaints from passengers about baggage issues. These include problems with delayed, lost, damaged, or misrouted luggage.

Under the NCAA’s current consumer-protection rules, passengers with complaints are advised to first contact the relevant airline or service provider’s Customer Affairs Unit. If they do not get a response, they can escalate the issue to the NCAA. Lost and damaged bags are among the complaints handled under this system.

The NCAA’s rules also recognize passengers’ rights to compensation for delayed, lost, or damaged luggage. Their Part 19 consumer-protection regulations cover passengers’ rights and responsibilities, including compensation for baggage issues.

The authority has intervened in baggage-related complaints in the past. In February, the NCAA engaged with Kenya Airways and affected passengers over compensation claims after reports of missing iPhones and other valuables from checked luggage. The NCAA stated they had started investigations to find out who was responsible and to help resolve the issues.

The new RFID system will add another layer of tracking to the current baggage-management and complaint process.

With electronic tracking information available at different points, airlines and service providers can more easily find out where a bag was last seen when it is delayed or lost. This information can also help in investigating and resolving baggage complaints by providing a clearer record of the luggage’s journey.

Airlines, FAAN and handlers involved

Mr Achimugu mentioned that the meeting in Lagos included domestic airlines, other service providers, and FAAN to finalize plans for the new system.

The baggage-handling process involves multiple parties, including airlines, airport authorities, and ground-handling companies.

The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) is one of Nigeria’s main ground-handling companies. They provide services like baggage handling and passenger assistance at airports.

This means effective baggage tracking will need cooperation among all the different operators involved in moving luggage from check-in to the aircraft.

Mr Achimugu said the relevant agencies have reviewed the new technology and looked at possible challenges that may come with it.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has given the green light for the agencies to look into this innovation and report back, he said.

“Consultations have been had, possible challenges have been examined, and the general consensus is that all great evolutions must begin from a point,” Mr Achimugu said.

But the NCAA official did not give a specific date for when the RFID baggage tracking system will start.

He said more details on how it will be implemented will be shared later.

This new system is expected to give passengers more insight into their checked luggage. It will also provide airlines, airport authorities, and ground handlers with more information to manage luggage movement.

The technology could also help pinpoint where problems arise when luggage is delayed or lost. This may give service providers better information to respond to passenger complaints.

Mr Achimugu described the planned change as a big step forward for Nigeria’s civil aviation sector, especially in improving baggage handling and passenger experience.

“Due to a listening minister, a proactive DGCA, and a vibrant MD FAAN, we are about to witness a new era in civil aviation in Nigeria,” he said.

The initiative is still in the planning and consultation phase. The NCAA has not announced when the RFID baggage tracking system will go live.

Its success will depend on how well the technology is used across the baggage-handling process and how airlines, airport operators, ground handlers, and the regulator make use of the information it generates.

For passengers, the planned system could mean more than just knowing if their bag has arrived. It could give a clearer idea of where luggage is during the trip and help airlines and service providers respond better when bags do not arrive as expected.