News: Hand luggage restriction lifted
Flights > News > # 976 (22/09/2006)
Hand luggage restrictions imposed in the UK after an alleged terrorist plot to attack US-bound airliners are to be eased today (September 22), the government has said.
Passengers will still only be allowed one piece of luggage but the maximum size permitted will increase to that of a small roller-suitcase. The limits have been blamed for causing delays and for costing airlines millions in compensation payouts and lost earnings.
Passengers will still be banned from taking non-essential liquids on to flights with them, but musical instruments can be brought on board in a separate case. Professional musicians had criticised the ban and some cancelled engagements rather than risk putting valuable instruments in aircraft holds.
The changes come after the government's transport security division held crunch talks with key players in the aviation industry on Monday. The Department for Transport said the easing was designed to "lessen the burden on passengers, while maintaining a rigorous security regime". But passengers should still allow extra time for security checks ahead of their flights.
"The measures we introduced in August were in response to a very real and serious threat which continues," the department said.
British Airways, which has said cancelling more than 1,000 flights because of the alert cost it £40 million, welcomed the announcement. “This is a sensible step forward that takes full account of the security threat level while making life easier for our customers," it said.
Ryanair has considered taking legal action over the government’s handling of the crisis, and said it still had concerns over “unnecessary queues” because of body searches. A spokesman for the no-frills giants said: “Hard-pressed frontline security staff are being forced to body-search families, elderly couples and young children as potential terrorists, when clearly they are not.”
Thousands of flights were cancelled at London Heathrow and other UK airports after the alleged plot was foiled on August 10. A total ban on hand luggage was initially brought in but after a few days passengers were allowed to carry on a laptop computer-sized bag. The new size limit for carry-on luggage will increase to 56cm x 45cm x 25cm (22in x 17.75in x 9.85in), the aviation industry standard. Electrical equipment will continue to be allowed on board, but larger items such as laptop computers must be removed for screening.
The current security measures ban all liquids except medication essential for the flight and baby milk and liquid baby food, which must be tasted by the passenger. The Department for Transport said it was working on ways to ease this restriction in future. Instruments which do not fit in the permitted cabin baggage size will now be allowed as a second item of cabin baggage, after being screened.
Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander said: "We will never compromise the security of the travelling public. The aim of the measures announced today is to maintain that security while lessening the inconvenience to passengers.
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