Ryanair, Europe's favourite low fares airline, today welcomed SITA’s independent baggage report which confirmed Ryanair’s outstanding baggage performance, mishandling far fewer bags than any other airline.

The 2013 SITA World Tracer statistics, which are used by 450 airlines globally, showed a worldwide average of 6.96 mishandled bags per 1,000 customers, while in Europe, the average figure was even higher at 9 mishandled bags per 1,000.

However, Ryanair mishandled less than 0.36 bags per 1,000 customers last year and has called on all European airlines to publish their service statistics in the interest of consumers.

Ryanair’s Robin Kiely said: “Ryanair continues to offer Europe’s best customer service, with the lowest fares, great route choice, the most on-time flights, the fewest cancellations, and a continuing programme of improvements including allocated seating, a free second carry-on bag and a new website, so it’s easy to see why we’ll carry over 84m customers this year.

The 2013 SITA World Tracer statistics have confirmed Ryanair is the industry leader when it comes to ensuring our customers’ bags arrive with them, with less than 0.36 mishandled bags per 1,000 customers in 2013, compared to a worldwide industry average of 6.96 bags per 1,000 customers and a European average of 9 bags per 1,000 customers.

We are calling on all other European airlines to be honest and transparent with their customers and publish their statistics in the interest of consumers, who deserve to know how each airline is really performing.”