Japan’s Amajor Airport is preparing to celebrate 30 years in business, and it’s a milestone many US airports can only dream of: not a single piece of luggage has gone missing since opening its doors.
Kansai International Airport serves the port city of Osaka, near Kobe and Kyoto, and is among Japan’s busiest. It first opened in September 1994 and has consistently noted performance and efficiency. But its impeccable baggage handling record puts it in league among major international airports and may provide lessons for other hubs struggling with lost or damaged baggage claims. But there’s no secret sauce to how Kansai managed such an amazing record. airport spokesman Kenji Takanishi told Newsweek about baggage handling.
“Ground staff at Kansai International Airport are no exception,” Takanishi said. But every bag has a redundant system to get to its destination. Teams work in small groups – two or three at a time to minimize the number of hands touching each bag. Every airline serving Kansai uses a detailed manual that sets out how to load and unload cargo, and mandates regular data sharing as part of a multi-pronged approach.
If the number of checked-in bags is significantly different from the number of checked-in bags at the point of origin, the staff will immediately check the hold and the surrounding area. The airport’s goal is to take luggage from the cargo area, Takanishi said, and take the luggage to the conveyor belt within 15 minutes of landing, leaving the handle outside for easy portability and requiring a backup.
“Of course, if the bag gets wet from the rain, wipe it and return it to the carousel.” Certain items, such as travel and sports equipment, are delivered to passengers to ensure they are not damaged during unloading.
Kansai handles 30 million passengers and 11 million pieces of luggage a year, Takanishi said, and that number is expected to increase next year when Osaka hosts Expo 2025, a major international exhibition expected to attract nearly 28 million tourists. in the region for a six-month event. The airport is undergoing a major renovation in preparation for the exhibition.
UK aviation website SkyTrax has recognized Kansai eight times for its baggage handling, including this year.
At the other end of the spectrum are airports like New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, which was recently ranked by Forbes as the worst US airport for lost and damaged aircraft.
