This morning’s headlines from Italian Newspaper Corriere della sera: Caos bagagli a Fiumicino: ipotesi sabotaggio (Baggage Chaos at Fiumicino: Sabotage Suspected)
They are reporting that around 10,000 bags have not been loaded onto planes this past weekend alone. The blame game has already started with the government officials blaming the handlers and the baggage handler’s union blaming the equipment.
Vito Reggio, the president of ENAC (L’Ente Nazionale per l’Aviazione Civile), is quoted:
«Sono cinque anni che non si investe su un nuovo sistema di smistamento – ammette il presidente dell’Enac nel colloquio con il quotidiano romano – ma abbiamo il fondato sospetto che i macchinari vengano regolarmente manomessi dagli operatori che, per lavorare con più tranquillità, bloccano i nastri trasportatori anche dieci volte al giorno».
(“It has been five years since there has been investment into a new [baggage handling] system” – admits the president of Enac in the Roman newspaper – “but we have the foundation to suspect that the machines become regularly sabotaged by workers who, to make their work easier, block the conveyer belts 10 times a day”. (translated by: me).
The article using “insider sources” goes on to say that the handlers use chewing gum, coke bottles, and other luggage to cover the sensors and stop the belts so that they can have a coffee, smoke or chat. The bags are then delayed in their delivery to the aircraft and left behind. By reporting this we do not intend to discourage anyone from making the trip to Italy — even without your bags you’ll have a great time! Just make sure that you put your name and contact information on both the inside and outside of your luggage and be sure to pack a change of clothes in your carry-on as well as any valuable items.
