Scottish Liberal Democrat MEP Elspeth Attwooll has welcomed a new EU investigation into lost luggage, which will mean better rights air travellers whose bags are lost by airlines.

Commenting, the MEP for Scotland said:

“This investigation is definitely good news for passengers, as the statistics show that checking in a bag is becoming more and more of a lottery.

Anyone who has lost a bag will tell you what a frustrating experience it is – it can spoil a whole holiday before it’s even begun.

At the end of the day it is up to airlines to put in place baggage handling systems that work, so it is only fair that passengers are properly compensated when their baggage is lost or damaged.

I hope that this investigation will prompt airlines into improving their performance.”

Notes:

* The investigation was announced yesterday by Transport Commissioner Tajani. See http://europa.eu/rapid/middayExpressAction.do?date=19/03/2009&direction=...

* The European Airline Association statistics estimates that 3 million bags were lost in the EU in 2008, and 1 million of which were never returned to their owner.

* SITA, the global travel solutions organisation, estimate that 42 million bags were either lost, late or damaged worldwide in 2007, up from 34 million in 2006 and 30 million in 2005.

* The consumer watchdog Air Transport User Council UK has also criticised airlines for failing to properly reimburse travellers – saying that people are often being offered as little as 10% of the value by way of compensation.