If you ever have the pleasure of flying in or out of Kansai International Airport in Japan, don’t worry about your luggage getting left behind. The airport has never lost a single bag, which is doubly impressive given that it first opened in 1994 and served more than 34 million passengers in 2025 alone. Located on an artificial island in Osaka Bay, near such major cities as Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe, Kansai Airport (known among locals as Kankū) is also home to the longest terminal in the world at 1.16 miles. But how has it kept a perfect luggage record for more than three decades? Let’s find out.

Day In, Day Out

While it’s no doubt an impressive feat, there doesn’t seem to be any grand secret to Kansai’s perfect baggage delivery record, at least according to airport representatives. “It would be the result of the daily efforts and careful work of everyone involved, including airlines and handling companies,” airport spokesperson Momoka Wakabayashi told NPR in an email. “We apologize if this would be not a specific answer.” (No apologies necessary, in our opinion.) 

Speaking to CNN, another representative offered a similar statement. “We don’t feel like we have been doing something special,” public-relations officer Kenji Takanishi said. “We have been working as we normally do. We only do our work on a daily basis and we are recognized for it. We are certainly happy to receive the [recognition]. I think our staff, especially those working on the ground, feel more pleased.” In other words, everyone there is just really good at their job.

But perhaps there’s another element at play: A culture of hospitality, respect, and attention to detail is deep-rooted in Japan. As Tsuyoshi Habuta, who oversees baggage operations for one of the handling companies at Kansai, explained to NPR, he feels a strong commitment to passengers’ well-being, and this extends to their luggage, which he considers “precious.” 

“We are working hard to study and learn more each day so that we can make the passenger happy. I really think this is the spirit of Japanese hospitality,” he said. His team also places an emphasis on small details that can subtly improve the passenger experience — for instance, placing each suitcase with the handle facing outward, so that passengers can more easily grab their bag.

And the Award Goes To…

Unsurprisingly, Kansai International Airport (KIX) has previously won Skytrax’s award for Best Baggage Delivery. Somewhat surprisingly, it hasn’t won the prize every year. The most recent edition went to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. (Kansai International came in third for 2026.) 

While KIX no doubt continues to excel in the baggage department, the ranking takes into account not only completion factor but also passenger satisfaction on the speed, efficiency, and reliability of luggage handling from plane to carousel — and Taoyuan simply had the edge when it came to the overall picture. 

What if You’re Not Flying to Japan?

Here in the U.S., for comparison, over 2 million bags are lost every year. That’s across all airports and airlines, but no single U.S. airport managed to crack the top 10 worldwide for baggage delivery in the Skytrax World Airport Awards. While the overall chances of your bag getting lost are still slim — U.S. airlines handled over 470 million bags in 2025 — there are still ways to protect yourself as a traveler.

We always recommend tossing an Apple AirTag or a similar Bluetooth tracking device in your checked luggage before your trip. The device’s location is tracked using a technology called ultra-wideband, which is communicated to any nearby Apple devices and relayed to the larger Apple network. And now, if your bag goes missing, you can share your AirTag’s location with airlines directly, via Apple’s new “Share Item Location” — which could help you track down your missing bag faster than the airline.