Airports around the world are struggling with chaotic conditions due to the sharp increase in passenger numbers, job losses and absenteeism among (ground) staff. Numerous flight delays and cancellations and the onset of travel-intensive daylight saving time further exacerbate the already tense situation. To make matters worse, some passengers have to go home without luggage after their holiday – more than 2,000 suitcases are said to have been piled up at Frankfurt airport alone.
After two years of the Corona crisis, air traffic in Germany is again becoming tight. According to German Air Traffic Control (DFS), a “rapid” increase in flights and outside influences have left individual sectors of the airspace busier than before the outbreak of the pandemic.
“These are traffic spikes that nobody expected,” admits DFS boss Arndt Schoenemann in Langen near Frankfurt. The busy traffic already affects the punctuality of flights.
Ground staff absenteeism means that suitcases are left behind
The AUA mother Lufthansa is struggling with a high absenteeism rate, especially among the ground staff. As a result, many suitcases are left behind. According to information from “Bild”, at Frankfurt airport alone, 5,000 suitcases of Lufthansa passengers are left on the ground every day. In the meantime, suitcases would be trucked to Munich to be loaded onto planes there.
Missing key ground personnel
A total of 2,000 suitcases are stacked in a secret hall at Frankfurt Airport – which cost 4,000 workers during the Corona crisis. But instead of looking for solutions to problems, airport manager Stefan Schulte looks for a culprit. For example, travelers are responsible for baggage handling problems – because they use too much luggage and too often black suitcases.
Black luggage must be marked, for example with stickers or a colorful luggage strap. That makes identification easier. In addition, the luggage should be labeled with address details so that they are easier to find in the chaos. But the police warn against this, because abandoned apartments are so easy for burglars to find.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
