UK refuse to relax liquid ban over lack of screening equipment
15.04.11
The Government has blocked plans to relax the ban on carrying liquids in airline hand luggage after warnings from airlines that the move would trigger chaos at airports, the Guardian reports. Transport secretary Philip Hammond told UK airport owners that the first phase in lifting restrictions will not go ahead as planned on 29 April.
Under the plans, passengers on long-haul flights from outside the EU would have been allowed to carry duty-free liquids on to connecting flights at EU airports. However, the newspaper reports that airlines and airport groups have warned that the change would lead to severe delays because terminals might not have adequate screening equipment, while some countries such as France and Italy are considering ignoring the 29 April deadline.
In a letter to airport owners sent yesterday, Mr Hammond said the ban would remain. He cited security concerns as the reason for the delay. A Government source told the newspaper: ‘The EU regulation will still come into force but, because of current security conditions, we are imposing stricter measures that mean, effectively, there will be no change.’ The new UK security measures are expected to remain in place for at least six months.
The EU now faces calls to issue a new timetable for lifting the ban, given the UK's important role in the transfer passenger market – Heathrow carries around 6 million connecting customers from outside the EU every year.
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