Gatwick apologises after passengers forced to fly without bags
Gatwick has apologised to thousands of customers after a break down of its baggage sorting system on Friday meant many had to travel without their luggage.
The technical hitch also meant that some flights from both the North and South terminals were delayed.
An airport spokesman said around 3,000 bags didn’t make it on to flights with their owners, which was around 7% of the daily total.
He confirmed that passengers were being repatriated with their luggage in their destinations.
The baggage sorting system has since been repaired and flight schedules are back to normal, added the spokesman.
"Gatwick would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to passengers whose aircraft departed without their bag," he said.
"The airport is working closely with our airlines to forward all bags to passengers at the earliest opportunity.
"Arrivals, and those travelling with carry-on baggage only, were unaffected by this issue and all bags and passengers were security screened as normal."
The failure, which meant a chaotic start to the Bank Holiday weekend for many passengers, affected all airlines at Gatwick, including British Airways, easyJet and Thomson. The situation for BA passengers worsened on Saturday when a computer glitch meant all flights had to be grounded.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025