More stringent security regulations that have been issued to airports in the UK are likely to cause disruption to passengers.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has set out new rules that will require airport security services to randomly test liquids that are carried in passengers’ hand luggage, The Times reports.
Tight security rules were introduced last summer following the alleged thwarted terrorist plot to blow up transatlantic aircraft.
At the present time, passengers are only permitted to carry liquids in hand luggage if they are in small containers measuring no more than 100ml and placed in transparent plastic bags.
The latest regulations will see security teams checking liquids with litmus paper.
“We have been running the trial as if the DfT’s rules had already been implemented,” a spokesman for Heathrow told The Times. “We are already geared up for testing and there should not be any impact on passengers.”
However, a letter from the DfT leaked on a pprune.org discussion forum claimed: “It is anticipated that this introduction will cause inconvenience to customers, airport staff and crew travelling through UK airports and will potentially impact the speed of security processing.”
The new rules came into effect on May 1.
Passengers are reminded that they can usually buy essential liquids and gels beyond the airport security search points.
