Baggage handler Swissport has apologised to Manchester Airport customers after some passengers were left waiting days for their luggage.
Passengers have faced long delays waiting for their bags to be placed on carousels in the airport's baggage reclaim halls - leading to many deciding to walk out and collect their cases later from lost property. Photographs sent to the Manchester Evening News show hundreds of items of left luggage, with one pile captured two days after a flight landed.
A Swissport spokesperson said the baggage system was under "enormous pressure" and reported experiencing "knock-on delays from security queues". Swissport - which is not the only baggage handler at Manchester Airport - said it had recruited almost 1,000 new members of staff in the UK and Ireland, but pointed to rising cases of c ovid-19 and security procedures and training for new starters.
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The apology comes after baggage handlers reported being under "more stress than ever". One staff member, speaking anonymously, said: "We just can't handle the workload."
Manchester Airport has hit headlines in recent weeks and months as travellers have reported "chaotic" scenes and queues that snake into the car park. Airport boss Karen Smart quit her role on Tuesday, amid a growing backlash, to pursue "new career opportunities".
In a statement, Swissport apologised to travellers at Manchester Airport who have experienced delays in reclaiming their baggage and in disembarking from planes. The company also said it would be working closely with airport management.
A Swissport spokesperson said: "The pandemic significantly impacted the aviation industry which is still recovering as flight levels begin to return. We have recruited nearly 1,000 new colleagues into our business across the UK and Ireland but with cases of covid-19 rising and complex security processes for new staff, recruitment remains challenging across the industry.
"We understand how frustrating and inconvenient delays are for customers and we apologise to those who've experienced delays in disembarking and baggage collection. With the increased demand for travel the capacity of the baggage system is being put under enormous pressure and we are seeing knock-on delays from security queues. We, and other baggage handlers operating at the airport, are all working closely with the airport management to help identify contingency measures whilst they address the vital maintenance and improvements these shared facilities require."
Airports are also struggling from the combination of staff shortages and a spike in demand as many families head abroad for the school Easter holidays, which is the first since the UK's coronavirus restrictions for international travellers were dropped. The situation could worsen this weekend as airports will be used by travellers returning from trips during the first week of the break, and those departing for the second week of the school holiday.
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