This Japanese airport has not lost a single piece of luggage in 30 years

Japan’s seventh-largest airport is celebrating a milestone in aviation: 30 years without the loss of a single piece of luggage.

Kansai International Airport (KIX) in Osaka announced that since its opening in September 1994, not a single suitcase of the 20 to 30 million passengers the airport handles annually has been misplaced or damaged by baggage handlers or ground staff.

Despite this impressive record, airport staff remained modest about this achievement.

Kenji Takanishi, a public relations officer from Kansai, said CNN: “We don’t feel like we’ve done anything special.

“We have been working as usual. We do our work every day and are recognized for it. We are of course happy about the award. I think our employees, especially those who work on site, are happier.”

In April, the efficient Japanese air traffic hub took first place for the eighth time in the baggage handling category by Skytrax, a British air transport rating organization.

The World Airport Award evaluates waiting times at baggage claim, the efficiency of baggage delivery and the response of international airports to lost baggage.

Kansai floats on artificial islands in Osaka Bay and serves travelers from Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto. Its goal is to carefully return luggage to the baggage carousel at 15-minute intervals.

Earlier this year, it was reported that the artificial islands that house the “world’s best airport” are rapidly sinking into the Seto Inland Sea due to years of extreme weather conditions and the enormous weight of the airport buildings.

Kansai Airport is currently undergoing renovations to accommodate millions of additional passengers as Osaka prepares to host the 2025 World Expo.

The Kansai Airports Group said it will continue to “create an environment where passengers can have a pleasant and entertaining time at the airport and have an enjoyable travel experience.”