In 2023, Brussels Airport saw a total of 22.2 million passengers pass through its gates, according to recent data. Alongside this, the airport also handled 21,230 abandoned items, scattered throughout the airport’s security checkpoints and various corners.
However, the recovery rate for these items was only 21%, with the remaining items going unclaimed and unreported as lost. With millions of passengers at the airport each year, it’s unsurprising that items are occasionally forgotten during the hustle and bustle of travel. The airport’s Lost & Found team handles all items left behind, carefully recording and storing them for up to six months.
The 2023 data revealed a diverse range of abandoned objects, from electronics such as laptops, phones, and tablets to various articles of clothing, belts, and essential ID cards and passports. The recovery rate stands at 21%, with laptops, untagged hand luggage, ID cards/passports, clothing, jewelry, and phones making up the majority of recovered items.
Brussels Airport emphasizes the ease of reporting lost items via their website, with their dedicated Lost & Found team committed to reuniting passengers with their belongings. Unclaimed items also find significant avenues for contribution, with unopened beverage containers, food, and personal care products being donated to local non-profit organizations.
In addition to donating unclaimed items, the airport also redirects electronics to a Belgian non-profit organization focused on bridging the global digital divide. Clothes and strollers, meanwhile, find new purposes through donations to post-earthquake relief efforts in Turkey and a local non-profit organization. Overall, unclaimed items at Brussels Airport are put to good use, benefiting both local and global communities.
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