Baggage handlers at Manchester Airport lost the third most luggage of any airport across the UK in 2022, a freedom of information request has revealed.
The FOI request to the UK Civil Aviation Authority noted that 43 pieces of luggage had been lost at Manchester Airport in 2022.
This means that the airport had lost 19.3% of the total 222 bags lost in UK airports last year, making it the third most likely to lose passenger luggage, behind London’s Heathrow and Gatwick.
When planes arrive at the airport, ground staff hired by individual airlines look after the luggage.
Most airlines at Manchester Airport hire private companies such as Swissport and Menzies to be their ground staff.
The baggage does not go through the hands of the Manchester Airport Group (MAG), which operates the airport – instead, MAG looks after the well-being of the 25 million passengers who pass through the airport each year.
MAG does not only own and operate Manchester Airport, but is also in charge of London Stansted – which is the fourth worst airport for lost luggage in the country.
A Manchester Airport spokesperson said: “Manchester Airport is the third busiest in the UK behind Heathrow and Gatwick – and every year we look after the bags of almost 30million passengers.
“We work closely with airlines and their appointed baggage handlers to make sure issues are kept to a minimum and, as this data shows, it is extremely rare that luggage is ever lost.
“This year we’ve successfully introduced a new 100-person resilience team, which has made a real difference troubleshooting issues around the airport, ensuring we can react quickly and effectively and avoid disruption to passengers.
“Where luggage is sometimes held up we work with our partners to make sure passengers are quickly reunited with their bags.”
Featured Image: Terry Whalebone @ Flickr
