Missing luggage haunts major airports

TUMELO SETSHOGO
orrespondent | Friday August 17, 2007 00:00

Also transported are the countries valuable resources such as minerals in the case of Botswana. Everyday there are a lot of different airliners dropping out and taking off passengers to different destinations carrying luggage. But the services at most airports leave much to be desired due to many problems that need to be solved before they get out of hand.

Misplacing, loss of passenger baggage and theft of valuables have become the order of the day. The good news is that these problems are not unique to Botswana but are common in other countries such as South Africa, Italy and United Kingdom (UK). But at the end of the day, the ball is squarely in airport managements' court. Just recently, passengers using South African Express Airways (SAEA) and Air Botswana (AB) were struggling in ensuring that passengers luggage did reach their owners after they had been piling up at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport in South Africa. The problem was because of a breakdown in the conveyer-belt, which transports luggage into the aircraft, forcing the process to be done manually, hence the delay in transferring passengers' luggage.

Passengers were left helpless at the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (SSKA) upon arrival, as they could not find their luggage.

Taolo Bailang, SAEA customer service officer responsible for the Botswana office at the SSKA said: 'We have a very serious problem at our airport because the conveyor belt in South Africa has broken down. This has forced our officers to carry luggage manually into the planes, which delays the process.' She told Mmegi in an interview that at least 51, 000 pieces of luggage are piling at the OR Tampo Airport, but fortunately 'more are coming in and most passengers have since collected their baggage'. Some passengers were found queuing at the SAEA offices and AB offices, enquiring if they would ever find their luggage. Many said they had been waiting for their suitcases for 10 days.

Passengers most affected by this ordeal were from European countries while a few were from within Africa. It seems the problem of luggage delays is universal because Munich Airport in Germany, for example, is experiencing similar problems. Finnish national Salla Eliote who arrived in Botswana on August 2 told Mmegi that her luggage was located in Munich after she arrived in Botswana.

Fortunately after five days Eliote managed to get her luggage and SAEA officials compensated her with P460 'for the inconveniences caused'.

Earlier this year, London's Heathrow Airport experienced the same problem of passenger luggage piling at their airport after equipment failure and poor weather. It was reported that the problem began before Christmas when a faulty baggage belt at the Terminal Four and cancellations caused by fog stopped 10, 000 bags that were being delivered.
According to a statement published on 'http://www.bbc.co.uk', a British Airways spokesperson said the problem coincided with the introduction of new working practices for baggage handlers at Terminal One and Four and the company is preparing to move its entire Heathrow operations to the new Terminal Five in March 2008.

Passengers were assured the situation would be attended to and 'will get their luggage back and safe'. Apart from the Heathrow scandal, the Italian police were also investigating the chaos surrounding handling of luggage at Fiumicino Airport in Rome. It is reported that on August 5 this year, thousands of pieces of baggage have gone astray during the heaviest travel weekend of the year where more than 10, 000 people passed through the airport on Sunday alone, and many have not seen their suitcases since. According to an article written by David Willey published on BBC News, the Italy's Civil Aviation Authority claims that baggage handlers have been sabotaging outdated or obsolete equipment, causing huge delay. Meanwhile, the passengers whose luggage is lost, airliners transporting them are liable and should compensate them accordingly. For example, the Finnish woman (Eliote) was given P460 by the South African Express Airways for the delay in transporting her luggage from Johannesburg to Gaborone. Efforts to get a comment on the Air Botswana officials on compensating their passengers were futile as they refused to grant Mmegi an interview.