Washington – Add this to the nightmare scenario for summer air travelers: the growing chance that their baggage is en route to the wrong city.
A congressional panel on Wednesday seemed sympathetic but left the clear impression that help is not on the way.
“I’m afraid more baggage turmoil is almost an inevitability,” said Rep. John Mica, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure’s aviation subcommittee. Mica, R-Fla., noted that the number of mishandled bags was 23 percent higher in 2005 than in 2004. For every 1,000 passengers, there were 6.04 reports of bags that were delayed, lost, stolen or damaged last year, according to the Transportation Department.
The likelihood that bags will be lost or late increases with air- travel volume, and this summer is expected to be the busiest ever.
John Meanen of the Air Transport Association told lawmakers that when the number of mishandled bags jumps, it usually is because an airline is having a specific problem, such as with staffing.
Security delays also can cause bags to be lost or to arrive late, said Mica. He said more airports should have bomb-detection machines as part of the conveyor- belt systems that move luggage.
