Over the past weekend, more than 90 pieces of checked luggage failed to be loaded onto Turkish Airlines flights from Istanbul and Antalya bound for Vnukovo Airport in Moscow. Although some bags were later delivered on separate flights, many passengers, both in Moscow and other cities, have been left waiting for their belongings for over a week. This raises a crucial question: What solutions exist for this persistent problem?
Yana Sergeeva, a resident of the Moscow region, finally received her luggage on the 11th day after her trip to Turkey. She had flown with Turkish Airlines from Antalya to Moscow on July 23rd. Passengers on her flight were not informed that their bags had not been loaded. Upon arrival, they endured an approximate 50-minute wait at the baggage claim belts, only to find nothing.
After the fruitless wait, Yana proceeded to the baggage tracing service, where she encountered a large group of frustrated passengers completing lost baggage forms. When Yana requested that her luggage be delivered to her home in the Moscow region, she was informed that she would have to wait at least two more weeks. Yana recounts that the following two days were spent in futile attempts to contact both Vnukovo Airport and Turkish Airlines:
“Two days later, I received a call informing me: `Yana, your luggage has arrived in Moscow from Istanbul.` At least I finally learned where my luggage had traveled. They told me: `Please wait. You will be contacted within three to five days, and it will be delivered to you.` Naturally, no one contacted me within those three to five days. It was finally delivered on Sunday, August 3rd. That makes it the 11th day.”
Were there any indications that it had been tampered with?
“Regarding the lock, I had some doubts. I usually shift one digit. I noticed that several digits were scrambled. However, I cannot definitively claim that someone tried to open it. I believe that if they had intended to, they would have succeeded.”
Passengers now describe flying with Turkish Airlines as a lottery. Vnukovo Airport has recently begun to inform passengers about baggage delays during the flight via its social media accounts. In Kazan Airport, as reported by “Business-online,” hundreds of unclaimed suitcases were found in multiple rooms within one terminal, each tagged with passenger details, allowing individuals to search for their own belongings.
These baggage issues are not unprecedented. The airline has previously explained that they need to load more fuel to ensure the aircraft can return to Turkey if a “Carpet” plan (airspace closure) is implemented. To achieve this, they reduce the aircraft`s weight by offloading baggage, which is then delivered separately. However, this approach appears questionable. Many other carriers, without public announcement, simply reduce 10-20 seats per flight to free up space for fuel, according to Artur Muradyan, Vice President of ATOR for International Tourism:
“The standard practice is to reduce the number of seats, as an adult typically weighs as much as three to four suitcases. So, even four suitcases at 20 kilograms each amounts to just one passenger`s weight. But here, we sometimes observe a completely chaotic situation where luggage from Antalya is first transported to Istanbul on domestic flights, and then from Istanbul to Russia.”
Artur Muradyan, CEO of Space Travel tour operator, Vice President of ATOR for International Tourism
Rosaviatsiya, Russia`s Federal Air Transport Agency, has threatened Turkish Airlines with a reduction in its flight quotas to Russia, a measure theoretically possible, states Alexander Lanetsky, CEO of Friendly Avia Support consulting company:
“Just three or four years ago, Turkish Airlines did not operate the Antalya-Moscow route, or if they did, it was limited to once-daily regular flights. Why are there now so many flights to Moscow? This surge occurred after Russian airlines encountered issues with international flights, following disputes with leasing companies that resulted in dual registration problems. Aircraft with dual registration could not leave Russian airspace without being immediately detained and confiscated. This led to a shortage of aircraft for Russian airlines, and to address this, a political decision was made to allow Turkish Airlines to operate charter flights. Especially given that the Turks possess a large fleet of quality aircraft. Turkish Airlines effectively filled a market gap they were previously excluded from. Now, for the most part, Aeroflot, for instance, has resolved its aircraft dual registration issues, allowing these planes to be deployed on Turkey routes.”
Alexander Lanetsky, CEO of Friendly Avia Support consulting company
Another option under discussion by experts is to reduce the standard baggage allowance, so passengers would carry less than the typical 23 kilograms, ensuring their suitcase travels with them. However, Turkish Airlines is an international carrier and cannot unilaterally alter its rules for a single country. The Russian Ministry of Transport has reported that Turkish aviation authorities have pledged to resolve the issue.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth