New rules allow liquids limited to 100ml per container all carried in a small re-sealable clear 20cm*20cm plastic bag.
LONDON: Passengers at UK airports faced long queues yet again this morning when new rules permitting small amounts of liquids in hand luggage came into affect after a three-month ban.
The British Airports Authority had imposed a ban on carrying liquids in hand luggage since 10 August when security agencies claimed they had foiled a terror plot to blow up 10 transatlantic flights. In the immediate aftermath of the alleged terror plot all cabin baggage had been banned except for essential document carried in clear plastic bags.
Since then one piece of small-sized cabin luggage per passenger including a laptop had been reinstated, but liquids were still not permitted.
New rules from Monday allow liquids limited to 100ml per container all carried in a small re-sealable clear plastic bag not exceeding 20 cm by 20 cm on to an aircraft. These should include only toiletries or drinks for the flight and nothing more.
While going through security, the bag carrying the liquids will have to be taken out of the cabin baggage and placed through X-ray checks separately.
Airport staff have been undergoing training and were on duty at airports to tell passengers in check-in queues about the new regulations. However, even then passengers faced long queues while going through security and boarding aircrafts.
“It’s taking a little longer for passengers to get checked in and to pass through security to the departure lounge today,” admitted an Airports authority spokeswoman. “It’s taking about 45 minutes to an hour —when normally it would take about half as much time,” she added.
The new rules also mean essential medicines and baby food are allowed in amounts larger than 100ml.
Passengers will continue to be able to buy perfumes, cosmetics, bottles of alcohol and other drinks in the departure lounge after passing through airport security.
The BAA, which operates Heathrow Airport, said ‘slight delays to flight’ were mainly due to fog and not security checks.
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