Airport Lost Luggage Problems Get Worse

By ALASTAIR DALTON TRANSPORT CORRESPONDENT

BAGGAGE delayed by major European airlines increased last year, with the performance of previous-worst carrier British Airways slumping further.

BA was responsible for delaying 26.5 bags per 1,000 passengers compared with 23 in 2006, according to the Air Transport Users Council (AUC).

The UK passenger watchdog said the restriction of passengers since August 2006 to carrying a single piece of hand luggage had created a “unique” problem by increasing checked-in baggage.

BA was knocked off the top slot by TAP Air Portugal, which had a delay rate of 27.8 bags compared with 21 the previous year.

KLM and Alitalia were joint third worst with 19.7, and both were worse than in 2006. BMI, not included in previous figures, was seventh with 17.

The figures do not include Ryanair or Aer Lingus, or British airlines such as EasyJet, Flybe, Virgin Atlantic and charter operators.

The best-performing carriers were Air Malta, whose network includes Glasgow, and Turkish Airlines. Both had a lost bag rate of just 4.5 per 1,000 passengers in 2007.

The AUC said airlines operating through hub airports such as Heathrow fared the worst last year. More than half of mislaid baggage is thought to involve connecting flights.

Tina Tietjen, the AUC’s chairman, said: “We have spoken to BA and BAA, the airport operator of Heathrow, BA’s main base, about the problems they had with baggage handling in 2007.

“We have some sympathy with the unique problems they encountered in 2007, particularly the increased levels of hold luggage as a result of the ‘one bag’ rule at UK airports throughout the year.”

BA will be hoping the opening of Terminal Five next month will help solve its problems at Heathrow. Gareth Kirkwood, the director of operations, said the one-bag rule and increased security after last summer’s Glasgow terrorist attack had not helped the baggage situation.

He went on: “While our performance at the vast majority of global airports remains good, we continue to experience a wide variety of difficulties at our main home at Heathrow.

“A spokesman for BAA, which runs seven airports including Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, said:

“We are committed to working with the airline community to developbaggage handling solutions for Heathrow.”

A HOMELESS chef who made Gatwick Airport his home for more than three years is behind bars for breaching an Asbo banning him from the site.

Anthony Delaney, 43, ate, showered and slept at the West Sussex airport in scenes similar to the 2003 film The Terminal.

Lewes Crown Court heard that Delaney rarely left the south terminal and then only to collect his jobseeker’s allowance.

MAJOR disruption is expected to hit Irish airports after talks between management and air traffic controllers over staffing levels broke down last night.

LOST IN SPACE Airlines and bags delayed per 1,000 passengers 2007( 2006) 1 Air Portugal 27.8 (21) 2 BA 26.5 ( 23 ) 3=KLM 19.7 (16 .4 ) 3=Alitalia 19.7 (16.5) 5 Air France 17.6 (16.6) 6 Luxair 17.2 (16.4) 7 Bmi 17.0 (-) 8=Finnair 15.8 (14.2) 8=Lufthansa 15. 8 (18.1) 10 Spanair 15.4 ( 9.5) Source: Air Transport Users Council

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