Airport baggage restrictions to ease
Passengers travelling from British airports will not be restricted to one item of hand luggage from the new year, under plans announced by Ruth Kelly today.
The transport secretary revealed in a statement to parliament plans to lift the ‘one bag rule’ on an airport-by-airport basis after the Christmas rush.
She said the “new approach” would be introduced after 2007 saw improvements in screening technologies, procedures and an influx of extra security staff.
Passengers were prevented from taking more than one item of hand luggage on board flights after anti-terror officials foiled an alleged attempt to blow up transatlantic airliners in August 2006.
Heavy security restrictions were imposed which airports and airlines struggled to cope with, leading to lengthy delays, as the UK terror threat was raised to critical.
Ms Kelly said the one-bag restriction was only ever meant to be temporary and that its removal was always expected once improvements in screening were completed.
“We are inviting each airport to submit plans to take advantage of new technology, operational innovations, and unexploited capacity in the system to make a real difference to passengers as soon as possible,” she told parliament.
“This is not about relaxing security. It’s about allowing airports to take advantage of smarter technologies and improved processes to deliver a better service to the passenger.”
Earlier today Gordon Brown announced a package of reforms to improve Britain’s anti-terror strategy, telling the Commons the new measures would help confront the “generation-long challenge” of terrorism.
Railway stations, cinemas and restaurants will be better protected under the plans, the prime minister said, which include an increase in security spending from £2.5 billion to £3.5 billion.
Airports will also be affected by the measures, which were the result of a review conducted by security minister Lord West after this summer’s failed attacks in London and Glasgow.
