AIRLINES have welcomed the Government’s relaxation of restrictions on hand luggage introduced last Friday, but the industry should expect no let-up in heightened security at airports.
Queues at check-in and security remain longer than normal and some passengers appear confused by conflicting messages in the media.
Passengers can now take a small wheelie bag on board. But the ban on drinks and toiletries remains, except for those bought in an airport departure area.
The level of security checks is also unchanged – passengers must still remove shoes at security and one in two people will be hand-searched. However, musicians can now take instruments in the cabin.
Luton Airport marketing director Natalie Raper said: “It’s a slight change in requirements. People are allowed a small wheelie bag. But passengers still have to check in almost everything and this is putting pressure on baggage handling.”
She said most passengers were aware of the continuing ban on toiletries. The move does not represent a return to the relaxed hand baggage regime prior to the security alert on August 10, when airlines were allowed considerable licence to set their own limits on cabin luggage. “If a bag would fit in an overhead locker, it was allowed on,” said Raper.
Passengers should also be aware individual airlines may not accept the maximum-size bag permitted as hand luggage by the Department for Transport. The largest cabin bag allowed by EasyJet, for example, is 55cm x 40cm x 20cm compared with a DfT maximum of 56cm x 45cm x 25cm.
In all cases, passengers should check with the airline before departure.
Separately, the ban on taking drinks bought in departure areas on to US flights was lifted by US authorities on Monday. The restriction remained in place at UK airports until midweek, pending official notification of the change from the DfT.
- Official airline security information from the DfT website