EU approves new aviation security rules

Come November, all EU airlines will have to adopt new security rules, related in particular to the amount of liquid a passenger can carry on board.

The new rules were agreed to at a meeting of the EU's Aviation Security Committee on Thursday, which gave a positive opinion to the proposals submitted by the European Commission earlier on, following the foiled terrorist attacks on flights between the UK and the US last month.

Malta supported the new measures.

According to the new rules, limits will be introduced on the individual quantities of liquid allowed to be carried by passengers to 100 ml per container. The rules also require that the number of containers have to fit in one transparent re-sealable plastic bag of a maximum size of one litre. Passengers will have to present the plastic bag at security checkpoints.

Other security measures approved include a limitation on the size of cabin baggage allowed to a maximum of 56 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm, with the possibility of some exemptions, for example for musical instruments. Passengers will also be required to remove their coats and jackets at security checkpoints while laptop computers and large electrical items are to be removed from bags also to be security checked.

The European Commission said the new rules will still allow passengers to buy, under certain conditions, larger quantities of liquids at airport shops beyond the point where boarding passes are controlled. It clarified that the existing possibilities to transport liquids in checked baggage will be unchanged.

European Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot said he will now submit the proposal to the College of Commissioners to formally incorporate the rules into Community law.

"I expect this to be adopted in the course of next week. I warmly welcome the results of the committee meeting, which strike the necessary balance between a tough approach on security, the comfort of passengers and the needs of the industry,'" he said.

The Association of European Airlines (AEA), representing 31 airlines, including Air Malta, welcomed the new rules.

It said European travellers can look forward to greater clarity as to what they can and cannot take on board aircraft, following an EU announcement on the revision of security rules designed to harmonise the variety of measures in place across Europe since early last month.