The boss of Frankfurt Airport in Germany has blamed the chaos at airports on black suitcases, the Guardian reported on Friday, citing German media.
Stefan Schulte, the head of Frankfurt Airport, advised passengers to hand carry their belongings when possible and to use suitcases that are easy to spot. Black suitcases are so common, it’s “hard to distinguish them from each other,” he said, per the Guardian.
“Many people travel with black suitcases on wheels which makes identifying them very time-intensive,” added Thomas Kirner, a Frankfurt Airport spokesperson, per the Guardian.
Frankfurt Airport slashed 4,000 jobs during the pandemic and is struggling to cope with a surge in air passenger demand as restrictions ease. It has only managed to rehire 1,000 new ground service staff so far, Reuters reported on July 6.
Due to staff shortages, disruptions at Frankfurt Airport were expected to persist for the next two to three months, Schulte said in early July, per Reuters. Just last week, there were some 2,000 suitcases stranded at the Frankfurt Airport, according to Bild.
The aviation sector is dealing with a messy summer travel season with flight delays, lost bags, and chaos across the industry — and particularly in Europe — as demand has returned to pre-pandemic levels. Issues faced by airlines include staff shortages and bad weather.
Industry participants have been blaming one another for the chaos.
