Alleged 'baggage strike' grounds more than 50 flights at KLIA

More than 50 flights at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) were postponed today due to the failure of an airline’s baggage handling system since 7.30 this morning.

Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad’s (MAHB) managing director, Datuk Badlisham Ghazali who confirmed the matter said MAHB also received a preliminary report of passengers’ baggage not arriving at the intended destinations.

"We are disappointed as this has caused the delay of more than 50 flights at the airport.

"We (MAHB) are still waiting for a report on delayed luggage," he said when contacted by Astro AWANI.

He added that the incident was likely due to some dissatisfaction by the company’s baggage handling staff over their new roster.

"This is between the company and its staff who handle the lifting, storing and managing of the baggage.

“So from the reports that I received, this may be because of a change in their roster which was not agreed upon by the workers.

"In the early stage, MAHB had already helped to lift the baggage. But if required, MAHB staff can help the company," he said.

A few pictures showing a big pile of unattended baggage at the collection centre went viral today on social media believed to be over the shortage of manpower to handle them.