FORT WORTH- American Airlines (AA) has made significant strides in reducing its mishandled baggage rate, reporting a 29% year-over-year improvement in Q1 2025, according to an internal memo shared by aviation page JonNYC.
Despite this progress, the Fort Worth-based carrier (DFW) continues to rank last among major U.S. airlines in baggage handling performance, with December 2024 DOT statistics showing American mishandling 0.83 bags per 100 enplaned compared to Delta Air Lines’ (DL) 0.50 rate.
American Airlines Losing Less Bags in 2025
American Airlines has demonstrated meaningful progress in addressing one of its persistent operational challenges.
The internal memo, revealed by aviation expert JonNYC on social media platforms, highlights the carrier’s efforts to improve its baggage handling operations, flagged PYOK.
This 29% reduction represents the most significant improvement in mishandled baggage rates the airline has achieved in recent years.
However, the airline still faces considerable obstacles in matching competitors’ performance. Department of Transportation (DOT) statistics from December 2024 reveal that American mishandled 84,362 bags, translating to a rate of 0.83 per 100 bags.
This performance places American substantially behind smaller carriers like JetBlue Airways (B6) with a 0.41 rate and Alaska Airlines (AS) at 0.51.
Even when compared to similarly sized competitors, American trails Delta Air Lines’ 0.50 rate, though it comes closer to United Airlines’ (UA) 0.79 rate.
Additional Service Challenges
The baggage handling issues represent just one facet of American’s operational challenges. In October 2024, the DOT imposed a record $50 million fine on American Airlines for violations related to the mishandling of wheelchairs and mobility aids.
This penalty, 25 times larger than any previous disability rights enforcement action in aviation, highlighted serious deficiencies in the carrier’s handling of assistive devices.
While American was credited $25 million for investments already made to improve services for passengers with disabilities, the airline’s performance metrics continue to show room for improvement. December 2024 statistics indicate American mishandled 1.48 wheelchairs per 100 enplaned, significantly higher than Delta’s 0.67 rate.
The airline’s wholly owned regional subsidiaries, Envoy Air (MQ) and PSA Airlines (OH), also ranked poorly in baggage handling metrics, further contributing to American’s overall service challenges.
Industry Comparisons
When evaluating American’s performance in context, it’s important to recognize the scale of its operation. As one of the world’s largest airlines, American faces unique logistical challenges. However, Delta Air Lines, which operates a comparable network, consistently outperforms American in both baggage handling and wheelchair care metrics.
United Airlines appears to be experiencing similar challenges to American, with its December 2024 mishandled baggage rate of 0.79 approaching American’s 0.83 figure. This suggests broader industry pressures affecting legacy carriers with extensive hub-and-spoke operations.
The performance gap between American and smaller carriers like JetBlue and Alaska Airlines is even more pronounced, with these airlines mishandling approximately half as many bags proportionally. While their operations are smaller in scale, these carriers demonstrate that superior baggage handling is achievable in the current aviation environment.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
