Bristol Airport travellers asked to pack less

12/02/2010

By Sam Lock.

Passengers travelling from Bristol International Airport have been urged to pack less in their bags.

According to the travel hub, baggage handlers at the airport lift the weight of an elephant in passenger luggage each day, a fact that often leads to serious injuries.

Now workers' union Unite has launched a campaign calling on airlines to lower their maximum baggage weight from 32kg to 23kg, while also asking travellers to be considerate of airport workers by packing less.

Steve Turner, Unite national officer, said: "[Baggage handlers] are five times more likely than any other worker to suffer serious injuries which unfortunately can lead to permanent disability, because they are forced to handle very heavy bags in often cramped conditions."

He added that many people work under the assumption that baggage handling is fully automated, whereas in reality a single bag can be lifted manually on as many as a dozen occasions on a single journey.

Members of Unite are leafleting today (February 12th) to promote its Pack Less campaign at Heathrow, East Midlands, Manchester, Exeter and Bristol airports.

New facilities such as a covered walkway and refurbished toilets are currently being worked on at Bristol International Airport.