Scandal at Dublin airport: passengers' luggage thrown in the trash
We have all had occasion to hear horror stories regarding luggage at the airport. Trolleys lost, stolen, or sent elsewhere than [...]
DUB
We have all had occasion to hear horror stories regarding airport luggage. Lost trolleys, stolen or sent elsewhere than the owner. What happened in Dublin, however, is truly unbelievable. Indeed, pictures have been published showing suitcases thrown into the trash.
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Dublin airport: luggage in the trash
Exclusive images offered by UTV cast shadows on baggage handling at the airport in Dublin. Photographs are shown depicting different suitcases opened and thrown inside a bin suitable for disposal, all outside a warehouse filled with lost luggage.
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Does losing one's belongings at Dublin Airport include saying goodbye to any hope of finding them? Airlines and ground staff struggle to handle large post-Covid flow, with an estimated more than 4,000 bags, trolleys and more, gone astray.
The source of the photographs remains anonymous, protected by UTV. His actions prompted a prompt response from Sky Handling, or one of the main baggage handling agencies within Dublin Airport. The official version is that the material thrown in the waste was disposed of in this way for health and safety reasons.
A company spokesperson had this to say about the scandalous case, "There have been cases of unrecovered luggage containing perishable items that attracted pests. Therefore, they were removed so that they could be destroyed for general health and safety reasons."
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Luggage in the trash: the reaction of passengers
However, the version did not convince users, who on the web lashed out at the airport, pointing out that it is in fact almost impossible to get through to the baggage handling office. Helping to spread the word about the affair was the athlete's Katie Kirk, whose suitcases were lost on the trip back from their honeymoon with their new husband: "It really makes me angry. Those are someone's belongings and you don't know how much they mean to that person. With the current economic climate and the cost of living crisis, you can't afford to replace those things. It's really unfair. Our luggage is not lost. Dublin Airport simply does not have the staff to search for them. It's all in a warehouse or a garbage can, literally. In my suitcase are things from my wedding. Things I wore on that special day that we want to remember. It's really sad to think that we won't get them back."
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Lost luggage: the numbers
What is the current situation at Dublin Airport? Sky Handling Partners explained that it has 2,897 lost luggage to dispose of. Swissport, another operator, has 100, while Aer Lingus 1,200 across its European and North American network.
A case that forced Sky Handling to change its attitude toward customers, allowing them to check their warehouses themselves. An experience not at all appreciated by many users, as stated to UTV. Lisa Young is a passenger who, despite having access to the depot, could not find her luggage and has no idea where it currently is. The underlying problem is encapsulated in the number of staff who are experienced and knowledgeable in property management. The situation in Dublin is dire, and while people are entitled after three weeks to a refund of up to about £1,000 by proving the value of the items inside their luggage, it is clear how people are not enough. They want their possessions and memories back.