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Airline Security – New Rules for Hand Luggage
Airline Security – New Rules for Hand Luggage
Please Note (2nd November 2006 Update) – The Department for Transport has announced further changes to the UK’s aviation security measures, notably increasing the size of cabin baggage that can be taken onboard an aircraft, relaxing the restrictions on musical instruments, and allowing limited quantities of liquids in the cabin. The changes will take effect from Monday 6th November 2006.
The full update to the Airport and Airline Security Regulations can be found on TheTravelPage.co.uk main site.
The summary below has therefore been superceded, and we strongly recommend you follow one of the links above for the up-to-date position.
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The following update has been placed on the Sky News website:
The ban on taking hand luggage on to flights from the UK has been lifted, though some restrictions remain in force.
The Department for Transport said passengers can carry one item of cabin baggage on to planes.
Airport operator BAA has been phasing the changes in, and the new regulations are now in place at Gatwick, Stansted, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Southampton airports.
Heathrow passengers can currently take electronic equipment with them, but it must be kept in clear plastic bags, and the full regulations are expected to be in place there from 4.30am tomorrow.
Luton, Manchester, Newcastle, Liverpool, Nottingham, Leeds-Bradford, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff and Belfast airports have also implemented the revised rules.
The DfT said the new arrangements apply to “all passengers starting their journey at a UK airport and to those transferring from international flights at a UK airport”.
The new rules are:
Cabin baggage must not exceed a maximum length of 45cm, width of 35cm and depth of 16cm (17.7″ × 13.7″ × 6.2″ approximately), including wheels, handles and side pockets. This is smaller than the previous limits on hand luggage.
Other bags, such as handbags, may be carried within it.
All items carried by passengers will be X-ray screened.
No liquids of any type are permitted through the airport security search point, with two exceptions:
Prescription medicines in liquid form essential for the flight (such as diabetic kit), as long as it is verified as authentic.
Baby milk and liquid baby food (the contents of each bottle or jar must be tasted by the accompanying passenger).
Liquids not allowed include gels, pastes, lotions, liquid/solid mixtures and the contents of pressurised containers, for example toothpaste, hair gel, drinks, soups, syrups, perfume, deodorant, shaving foam and aerosols.
No cosmetics, toiletries or sharp objects.
To help their progress through search points, passengers are encouraged not to include items capable of containing liquids (e.g. bottles, flasks, tubes, cans, plastic containers etc.) in their cabin baggage.
All laptops and large electrical items (e.g. large hairdryer) must be removed from the bag and placed in a tray so that such items neither obscure nor are obscured by the bag.
Pushchairs and walking aids are permitted but must be x-ray screened. Wheelchairs are permitted but must be thoroughly searched.
Passengers boarding flights to the USA and items they are carrying, including those acquired after the central screening point, will be subjected to secondary search at the gate.
Any liquids discovered will be removed from the passenger.
