Liquids carry on restrictions for flight travel remains
Friday, July 20, 2012
Every business traveler is familiar with carry on restrictions for air travel, but these restrictions can vary greatly in different airports across the country and globe. Due to current limitations, air travelers often have to make an extra stop between the airport and their corporate lodging to purchase personal items such as toothpaste or hair products. Business Traveller reported July 19 that the European Commission has postponed the lifting of liquid restrictions that is currently set for April 2013.
The commission performed a number of trials at different EU airports and consulted extensively with their stakeholders which resulted in the decision to postpone lifting the liquid restrictions. It decided that due to the magnitude of the change that has been envisioned for the removal of restrictions for LAGs (liquids, aerosols and gels), the potential risk that could come out of an April 2013 lifting is too large. The EU recommends a January 2014 lifting instead, and according to Airports Council International Europe, this recommendation has received considerable support from airports around Europe.
While the commission did say that definite progress has been made by manufacturers of Liquid Explosive Detection Systems in the development of instruments to screen liquids. However, as the commission commented, "The risk posed by liquid explosives to civil aviation is still significant."