Chaos erupted at Manchester Airport in the early hours of Thursday morning as hundreds of passengers were left stranded in the arrivals hall, waiting up to two-and-a-half hours for their luggage to appear on the carousel.
Travelers arriving at the airport throughout the night described the situation as “an absolute shambles,” with many left without information or support as the hours ticked by. One passenger, who touched down at approximately 12:30 a.m., reported that despite the significant delay, only a single suitcase had made its way onto the belt during his wait.
“There’s no one here to explain and no one to speak to at all,” the frustrated traveler told the Manchester Evening News. “There are a lot of quite angry people.”
Social media platforms became a venting ground for exhausted passengers as the delays persisted into the early hours. One user, posting under the handle @Jomills13, stated they landed at 12:50 a.m. and did not leave the airport until 3:08 a.m. after waiting two hours for their belongings. The post highlighted the confusion on the ground, noting that three different flights were being directed to the same baggage belt, further complicating the backlog.
Claire Bryan, a producer for the BBC who was among those affected, expressed particular concern for vulnerable travelers. She wrote online at 2:55 a.m.: “Our flight landed two hours ago and still no bags. Not an easyJet or DHL member of staff in sight. Barely any Manchester Airport staff about, and the ones that are here can’t do much to help. I feel for the pregnant, elderly, and people with additional needs. It is ridiculous.”
Another passenger, Gareth Terrace, praised the conduct of rival airline staff who attempted to assist stranded travelers despite the issue falling outside their remit. “Props to the Jet2 team for being around and trying to help, despite it not being their issue,” he noted on X.
While the scenes of frustration unfolded within the terminals, Manchester Airport officials were quick to distance themselves from the operational failure. An airport spokesperson confirmed that baggage handling is not managed by the airport itself, but rather by individual airlines and their contracted ground handling companies.
It is understood that the primary issues centered on flights operated by easyJet, which utilizes DHL Global for its baggage handling services. The long delays prompted a flurry of inquiries, though both easyJet and DHL have yet to provide a comprehensive explanation for the breakdown in service.
As of Thursday morning, the airport continued to face scrutiny over its oversight of third-party handlers as passengers demanded answers for the overnight disruption. The Manchester Evening News has reached out to easyJet for further comment.
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