Missing luggage still in limbo for many pre-Christmas fliers

PHILADELPHIA -- Some US Airways passengers were separated from their luggage a fourth straight day Sunday, while Comair put some of its passenger planes back in the air a day after canceling all of its 1,100 flights.

US Airways officials promised to reunite people and their luggage at their intended destinations by day's end, but a spokeswoman said it was not clear how many pieces of luggage remained unclaimed.

"We're making progress," said spokeswoman Amy Kudwa. "Our goal is getting the remaining baggage and passengers on their way today."

The airline blamed baggage problems and canceled flights -- 143 on Saturday and more than 100 on Friday -- on Thursday's severe weather and on large numbers of baggage handlers and flight attendants calling in sick.

Comair operated 110 to 165 flights, or 10 to 15 percent of its normal flight schedule, said Nick Miller, spokesman for the Delta subsidiary based at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

"We anticipate Comair will be able to operate on a full schedule by Wednesday," he said. "That is our goal."

Comair's computer system that manages flight assignments crashed Friday night after it was overwhelmed by cancellations and delays caused by the winter storm that socked the Ohio Valley. The computer shutdown forced the airline to cancel all of its Saturday flights.

The airline carries 30,000 customers to 118 cities on a typical day. Passenger numbers increase slightly during the holidays, but Miller said he did not know exactly how many people were affected by the cancellations.

Miller said technicians were continuing to repair the computer system.

"Obviously, we're working to get as much of the schedule back up and running as we can," he said.

ON THE NET

* Comair: www.comair.com

* Delta: www.delta.com