Manchester Airport third worst in the UK for lost luggage

Manchester Airport is the third worst airport for lost luggage in the UK, research has shown. The airport dealt with 16.13 per cent of mishandled baggage cases reported to the Civil Aviation Authority between 2018 and 2022, the highest volume after London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick.

Nearly half of mishandled baggage cases, 49.68 per cent, were at London Heathrow - the country’s biggest airport - while London Gatwick ranked second with its share of 17.74 per cent of cases during the four-year period. A total of 465 cases were reported at Heathrow, 166 at Gatwick and 151 at Manchester.

The figures are from research conducted by luggage storage firm Bounce, who analysed lost luggage on flights to and from the UK between 2018 and 2022 by submitting Freedom of Information requests to the Civil Aviation Authority. The CAA only handles cases of lost luggage which cannot be resolved by the airlines themselves.

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There are numerous reasons why luggage goes missing at airports. As Heathrow is the UK’s only hub airport, transfer bags can be missed during connections if a flight is delayed or late arriving at the airport. Issues can also arise from external baggage handling companies, usually appointed by airlines to deal with luggage.

London Heathrow - 49.68% of mishandled baggage cases

London Gatwick - 17.74% of mishandled baggage cases

Manchester - 16.13% of mishandled baggage cases

London Stansted - 8.87% of mishandled baggage cases

Birmingham - 5.24% of mishandled baggage cases

A spokesperson for Manchester Airport