East Midlands Airport passengers still have no luggage with days of holiday left

Scores of people are still without their luggage after it was left behind at East Midlands Airport (EMA) with just days left of their holidays. Baggage issues at EMA on Sunday (September 15) meant several planes took off with barely any luggage on them.

One TUI flight to Tunisia started with the pilot informing 187 passengers that just 27 cases were on the plane. EMA has since said that all luggage affected by Sunday's baggage issues has now left the airport, but many are still without their belongings as they prepare to fly back home.

Pat Neary, 59, from Ilkeston, previously spoke about his own experience and those of a large group of holidaymakers from his flight. Giving an update late on Wednesday night (September 18), Mr Neary said: "We all got our luggage today apart from Marc, whose case still hasn't arrived. TUI arranged transport to and from the airport and 106 cases turned up at the airport out of 162."

The baggage system fault affected passengers on 17 flights on Sunday, with seven Jet2, five TUI and five Ryanair flights suffering problems. A spokesperson said at the time that passengers could expect to be reunited with their luggage in 24 hours.

EMA reiterated that all baggage affected has now left its site and that it is in the hands of others to arrange how and when baggage gets to passengers. The passengers in Tunisia were among the last to have their baggage sent out of EMA.

EMA's Operations Director, Simon Hinchley, said: "We know that all affected baggage has left the airport and understand that airlines have managed to reunite the vast majority of affected customers with their bags. We can only apologise if the baggage system fault on Sunday is still having an effect on people on holiday in Tunisia."

Baggage at East Midlands Airport is handled by Swissport and a spokesperson for the company said: "We recognise the frustration for passengers of having their bags delayed which was due to a technical fault outside of Swissport's control. We are working closely with TUI to reunite these remaining customers with their bags as quickly as possible."