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New photos show ‘chaotic scenes’ as abandoned luggage piles up at Manchester Airport
The passenger described his journey as the ‘worst day of travel I ever experienced’
The mayhem continues at Manchester Airport this week as frustrated passengers are forced to abandon their luggage due to lengthy queues and delays.
Shocking images from baggage reclaim last night (April 4th) show abandoned suitcases and bags piling high as arriving passengers were forced to leave after waiting for up to two hours to collect their belongings.
Neil Scott, who took the photos, arrived back into Manchester from Egypt last night after what he has described as the ‘worst day of travel I ever experienced’.
He told Proper Manchester: “We travelled from Manchester to Hurghada in Egypt for a week’s holiday and, based on my experience, I would never travel from Manchester Airport again.”
The Glasgow-based designer described his outgoing journey as ‘just awful’, saying he spent most of his time in a ‘chaotic security queue with barely any staff’, despite arriving at the airport three hours early.
And arriving back into the country last night was no better, with Neil being forced to wait for over two hours to collect his luggage.
Read More: ‘Disgraceful’ queues at Manchester Airport continue as passengers fear ‘people will get hurt’
He recalled: “We arrived and managed to get straight through security, but then got to baggage collection. [There were] piles of abandoned luggage and promises of a two hour delay.
“No one knows what’s going on, no staff around at all. Some angry passengers shout through the rubber flaps. Cheers go up when the carousel starts moving but it’s a false alarm.
“Two and a half hours later, at midnight, we finally get our case, go to the station and find a rail replacement service.”
This came just one day before the airport’s managing director Karen Smart stepped down from her role.
According to BBC North West, Smart – who had been with the business for eight years but took on the senior role during the pandemic – formally stepped down on the same day political leaders and unions met with airport bosses to discuss the ‘concerning’ situation.
Manchester City Council councillor Pat Karney addressed Smart’s resignation on Twitter, writing: “I have never met Karen so it’s not personal when I say I hope this leads to a reset of Management and Approach at Manchester Airport.”