MP Backs Airport’s “Lighten Up” Campaign - 10/11/2008 |
 Wythenshawe and Sale East MP Paul Goggins today visited Manchester Airport to support a campaign by baggage workers that encourages passengers to pack lighter luggage.
Mr Goggins visited staff at Terminal 1 check-in, to help passengers guess the weight of their luggage before they check-in as part of a campaign by Unite, the UK's biggest union, to urge travellers to cut the weight of airport baggage to 23kg.
Two years ago the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Aviation Industry Committee agreed to reduce the weight of checked-in baggage from 32 to 23 kilograms per item. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has also backed the call.
Unite says that heavy bags are causing millions of passengers to face extra charges for failing to travel light, and could be contributing to the accidents and injuries caused by workers shifting heavy bags. Passengers that do “Lighten Up” will also be helping the environment as lighter planes mean less fuel which in turn means fewer harmful co2 emissions.
Paul Goggins said: “I support Unite in their campaign to reduce the weight of passengers’ luggage at Manchester Airport. The simple message is that passengers can save themselves pounds in their wallets by losing pounds of weight from their luggage.
“Heavy bags cause problems for everybody. Packing light is better for passengers, better for the environment and better for the workers who have to load and unload the luggage.”
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