TAP Air Portugal is the worst performing airline in Europe when it comes to baggage delays, with British Airways in second place, according to data from European airlines for 2007.
Figures published by the Air Transport Users Council (AUC) revealed that the Portuguese airline had a delayed bags ratio of 27.8 for every 1,000 passengers using its services.
BA recorded a ratio of 26.5, a decline in performance from 2006 when it delayed 23 bags for every 1,000 passengers.
The survey, which used data provided by the airlines, also revealed poor showings from KLM, Alitalia, Air France and bmi, with ratios of 19.7, 19.7, 17.6 and 17 respectively.
However, Air Malta and Turkish Airlines delivered the best figures, with both airlines only reporting 4.5 items of baggage delayed per 1,000 passengers.
Overall, an average of 16.6 bags were delayed, compared to 15.7 the previous year, with the AUC stating that airlines using “hub” airports such as London Heathrow were worst hit by baggage delays.
“We have spoken to BA and BAA, the airport operator of Heathrow, BA’s main base, about the problems they had with baggage handling in 2007,” said the organisation’s chairman Tina Tietjen.
“We have some sympathy with the unique problems they encountered in 2007, particularly the increased levels of hold luggage as a result of the ‘one bag’ rule at UK airports throughout the year.”
“But, whatever the extenuating circumstances, when passengers hand their bag into a check-in they should expect to see their bag at the other end. Complaints to the AUC show that delayed baggage can cause passengers considerable stress, inconvenience and expense.”
Responding to the figures, BA’s director of operations Gareth Kirkwood agreed that the ongoing problems at Heathrow had affected the airline’s performance last year, but also admitted that it could do more to improve the situation.
“While our performance at the vast majority of global airports remains good, we continue to experience a wide variety of difficulties at our main home at Heathrow.”
“Although Heathrow Airport continues to suffer from a very stretched infrastructure running at almost double capacity, we also accept that on occasions our own levels of service have not been as high as we would like.”
The report does not include figures from low-cost airlines including Ryanair, while both Virgin Atlantic and Aer Lingus are also not represented in the survey.
Heathrow is currently recovering from baggage problems which affected Terminal 4 yesterday (February 19), with a computer system error meaning that restrictions are still in place today on the amount of hand baggage passengers can take onto certain flights.
BA has issued specific information on the situation for all its customers scheduled to use the terminal today, which is available at www.britishairways.com.
