Tension at Chennai airport over baggage delays

CHENNAI: Passengers arriving at Chennai International Airport, especially from destinations like Dubai, have been facing frequent long delays at baggage claim.

It reportedly takes over an hour for luggage to reach the conveyor belt, leading to significant inconvenience for travellers.

On Friday morning, passengers who arrived on a Dubai flight waited more than an hour for their baggage, resulting in heated exchanges with airport staff. Such delays have become frequent particularly for flights arriving from Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Unlike other airports, where baggage is usually ready by the time passengers clear customs, Chennai’s international passengers often endure prolonged waits. After immigration, they wait for extended periods at baggage claim, especially for flights from Dubai.

While baggage handling delays are partly responsible, customs screenings are also a factor. Customs scan around 700 to 800 bags per flight from certain international destinations, said an airport official.

He suggested increasing the number of customs staff to speed up baggage delivery. Chennai Airport officials cited multiple flights landing simultaneously in the early morning as a cause. As they assure steps are being taken to reduce delays, passengers note such prolonged waits don’t happen at other airports.