Passenger's luggage still missing - one week on

A Black Country businessman who flew home from Spain for Christmas is still without his luggage, a week after landing at Birmingham Airport.

Jason Newman, aged 40, originally from Wolverhampton, lives and works in Barcelona and returned to the UK last Thursday to spend Christmas with his family in Farrington Road.

He travelled back via Amsterdam, as there were no direct flights into Birmingham available, but was told after waiting for an hour for baggage that it was not on board.

With all his Christmas presents and personal effects in the bag, he returned home to father Derek, mother Sylvia and brother Paul, with little more than the clothes he was in.

Despite numerous calls to the airport, airline and baggage handling company he is still no closer to getting it back, and is increasing worried about his return to Spain, planned for Sunday.

Mr Newman, who works as an export sales manager and travelled with airline KLM, said: "I waited for an hour when the baggage came off the plane, only to find my luggage wasn't there. I was told it was still in Amsterdam.

"However, there seemed to be a huge problem at Birmingham, where there were literally hundreds upon hundreds of bags piled up.

"The case had everything in it. All my Christmas presents, all my clothes.

"I had to go out to buy everything new. But the main problem is that no one will give me any answers. I have filled in all the forms, but I cannot get through to the airline, baggage handlers Aviance or Birmingham Airport, which simply has a message saying they can't deal with individual inquiries.

"I need to get back to Spain on Sunday, but have no information whatsoever as to where my belongings are."

A recorded message on Birmingham Airport's main contact number said: "If you are concerned about lost baggage and have reported an item missing there is no need to make further contact. Your delivery will be processed as soon as possible.

"We apologise that we are unable to take calls about individual items at the present time."

Around 200 bags are believed to still be piled up at Birmingham Airport after getting lost in transit during the Christmas rush.

It is believed chaos caused by people flocking home for the festive season, combined with problems caused by snow caused the backlog of baggage. Many of those affected are thought to be people who took connecting flights.

John Morris, a spokesman for Birmingham Airport said the airport is not responsible for dealing with baggage, which is the responsibility of the airlines and their handling agents

He said: "There is a small backlog of bags at the airport. Our people are working to help some of the airlines and handling agents with the issue." Aviance UK and KLM were unavailable for comment.