Osaka: Kansai Airport proud to have never lost single piece of luggage (2024)

Source: Hacker News

The Yomiuri Shimbun – 10:40 JST, December 28, 2024
IZUMI‑SANO, Osaka

No Lost Baggage in 30 Years

Kansai Airport is proud to have never had a lost baggage incident in the 30 years since it opened in 1994, earning recognition as the airport with the world’s best baggage service.

World’s Best Airport for Baggage Delivery

• Awarded “World’s Best Airport for Baggage Delivery” in the baggage‑handling category of the World Airport Awards 2024.
• This is the eighth time Kansai Airport has received the award.
• The awards are administered by a U.K.–based international aviation rating organization.

Baggage Handling Operations

• During peak periods, the airport handles up to 30,000 pieces of checked baggage daily.
• Bags are sorted by destination and moved on a conveyor belt.
• Sensors monitor the bags, and employees patrol the area to check for dropped items, a step that significantly reduces the risk of loss.

Passenger Experience

• The airport enjoys a strong reputation among overseas passengers for its baggage service.
• In early December, a 35‑year‑old passenger from Tanzania noted that all suitcase handles on the conveyor belt in the baggage claim area faced the passengers, making it easier to identify and collect luggage.
• After unloading, ground‑support personnel manually align the handles of the bags before placing them on the conveyor belt.

Upcoming Challenges

• The airport is facing a staff shortage as the 2025 Osaka‑Kansai Expo is expected to increase passenger numbers.
• “We want to improve our efficiency by upgrading our systems,” said a Kansai Airport official.