South African Airways has announced that, following a successful trial period, the airline is taking steps to implement baggage wrapping for customer bags as a permanent feature.
On 22 January, SAA introduced a complimentary baggage wrapping service to customers travelling out of Johannesburg. The trial has now been concluded, with customer feedback positive.
The number of bags pilfered from SAA out of O.R. Tambo International Airport was the lowest ever recorded in March 2014, even lower than the previous record achieved during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, when government security agencies safe-guarded baggage at all Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) airports.
After a successful trial, SAA has decided to permanently roll out the project at all domestic airports where the airline operates. A supply chain process will now be initiated for the procurement of a service provider that will implement the service on a permanent basis. This open tender will soon be advertised in major newspapers.
The initial trial period began in 2012, when SAA introduced baggage wrapping as a one-day test. SAA subsequently decided to run a trial for a longer period in order to obtain more reliable data.
During the completed trial phase (from January to April 2014), 73% of bags were wrapped and a pronounced decline in reported incidents of pilferage or damage was recorded.