Over the past few years, lost baggage at airports has repeatedly become big news, and many travelers insist on ‘carry-on only’ to avoid the problem, but through all the stories and fears, one airport has a proud claim: It hasn’t lost a suitcase in over thirty years.
Osaka’s Kansai International Airport, Japan’s seventh-busiest, opened in September 1994, on an artificial island in Osaka Bay. Its main terminal was designed by Renzo Piano; at 1.7km, it is the world’s longest airport terminal. Kansai handles suitcases for 20 to 30 million passengers a year, and has never had one lost or damaged by its ground staff or baggage handlers.
Interviewed by CNN, a PR officer for the airport shrugged it off: “We don’t feel like we have been doing something special. “We have been working as we normally do. We only do our work on a daily basis and we are recognized for it. We are certainly happy to receive the award. I think our staff, especially those working on the ground, feel more pleased.”