UK airport used by 15,000 passengers every day struck by luggage chaos as tourists left without suitcases for 3 DAYS --[Reported by Umva mag]

Alamy HORRIFIED passengers have been left without any luggage when they arrived at their holiday destination. Unlucky travellers who were preparing to set off on holiday were told there would be some “serious delays” with their luggage. GettyHolidaymakers arrived at their destination without any luggage (file image)[/caption] AlamyPassengers at East Midlands Airport were caught in baggage mayhem earlier this week[/caption] Those leaving the East Midlands Airport, Leicester, on September 15 faced “some delays” which affected multiple airlines. Operations director at East Midlands Airport Simon Hinchley said: “Unfortunately we experienced a baggage system fault yesterday morning which affected 17 departing flights. “This caused some delays, and some flights had to leave without passenger luggage on board.” The 17 flights break down to seven Jet2, five Tui, five Ryanair flights. While the airport has since apologised, this didn’t stop holidaymakers landing in Alicante, Benidorm, and Lanzarotte without any beachwear. Other affected destinations were Gerona, Arrecife, Faro, Enfidha, Palma, Dubrovnik, Skiathos, Dalaman, Malaga, Luga and Krakow. Passengers were told they were “expected” to have their luggage within a day. This isn’t the first time the airport has faced baggage issues. It comes as the global IT outtage caused utter chaos, with luggage being checked in by hand. An X account documenting the incident posted an image of a lengthy queue. On July 19, the user wrote: “This is the scene at East Midlands Airport as a global IT outtage means every piece of luggage handled by Ryanair and Tui at this airport has to be checked in by hand and recorded on paper.” The same user then posted an image of five ladies in cowboy hats with the caption: “Half of this hen party didn’t have check in luggage and are in Dublin.” Another user replied: “Still waiting…..” In a response to the baggage chaos claims, Simon Hinchley told The Sun: “In the early hours of September 15th we became aware of a fault with one of two baggage belt systems, with the second acting as a contingency in situations like this. “Unfortunately, the second also developed a fault which is a very rare occurrence. We had engineers on site attempting to fix the whole system, with a view to baggage rejoining flights that had been delayed. “Ultimately, the decision was taken to allow flights to depart and arrangements made for baggage to follow on, which is normal procedure in circumstances like this.  This affected 17 departing flights. “While a rare incident, we apologise for the inconvenience and will be reviewing our response to learn any lessons. “We have worked alongside the airlines to reunite customers with their baggage and the advice remains for customers to deal with their airlines who are responsible for making the arrangements.” “Baggage for all the affected flights has now left the airport.”

Sep 19, 2024 - 18:26
UK airport used by 15,000 passengers every day struck by luggage chaos as tourists left without suitcases for 3 DAYS --[Reported by Umva mag]
a large black sign that says welcome to east midlands airport
Alamy

HORRIFIED passengers have been left without any luggage when they arrived at their holiday destination.

Unlucky travellers who were preparing to set off on holiday were told there would be some “serious delays” with their luggage.

a red suitcase on a conveyor belt with other luggage
Getty
Holidaymakers arrived at their destination without any luggage (file image)[/caption]
a large black sign that says welcome to east midlands airport
Alamy
Passengers at East Midlands Airport were caught in baggage mayhem earlier this week[/caption]

Those leaving the East Midlands Airport, Leicester, on September 15 faced “some delays” which affected multiple airlines.

Operations director at East Midlands Airport Simon Hinchley said: “Unfortunately we experienced a baggage system fault yesterday morning which affected 17 departing flights.

“This caused some delays, and some flights had to leave without passenger luggage on board.”

The 17 flights break down to seven Jet2, five Tui, five Ryanair flights.

While the airport has since apologised, this didn’t stop holidaymakers landing in Alicante, Benidorm, and Lanzarotte without any beachwear.

Other affected destinations were Gerona, Arrecife, Faro, Enfidha, Palma, Dubrovnik, Skiathos, Dalaman, Malaga, Luga and Krakow.

Passengers were told they were “expected” to have their luggage within a day.

This isn’t the first time the airport has faced baggage issues.

It comes as the global IT outtage caused utter chaos, with luggage being checked in by hand.

An X account documenting the incident posted an image of a lengthy queue.

On July 19, the user wrote: “This is the scene at East Midlands Airport as a global IT outtage means every piece of luggage handled by Ryanair and Tui at this airport has to be checked in by hand and recorded on paper.”

The same user then posted an image of five ladies in cowboy hats with the caption: “Half of this hen party didn’t have check in luggage and are in Dublin.”

Another user replied: “Still waiting…..”

In a response to the baggage chaos claims, Simon Hinchley told The Sun: “In the early hours of September 15th we became aware of a fault with one of two baggage belt systems, with the second acting as a contingency in situations like this.

“Unfortunately, the second also developed a fault which is a very rare occurrence. We had engineers on site attempting to fix the whole system, with a view to baggage rejoining flights that had been delayed.

“Ultimately, the decision was taken to allow flights to depart and arrangements made for baggage to follow on, which is normal procedure in circumstances like this.  This affected 17 departing flights.

“While a rare incident, we apologise for the inconvenience and will be reviewing our response to learn any lessons.

“We have worked alongside the airlines to reunite customers with their baggage and the advice remains for customers to deal with their airlines who are responsible for making the arrangements.”

“Baggage for all the affected flights has now left the airport.”






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