Liquid Bottle Ban to End at Australian Airports
CNNGo | Nov. 22, 2011
Banning bottles containing liquids at airports around the world has caused more than a few problems: travelers can't pitch up with their favorite fragrance, and often get thirsty.
This has a lot to do with perfumes, aerosols, gels and bottles containing over 100 milliliters of liquid being confiscated on departure, under the suspicion they could contain explosives.
It means endless checks of carry-on luggage that create long queues for international travelers.
But it has been announced that new technology can tell if an explosive is contained in any liquid bottles. These x-ray machines examine bags from more than one angle and detect denser liquids, which might possibly be explosives.
The technology has already been trialed at Sydney Airport and will be phased in by early 2013, the federal government said.
It will reverse a global ban that came into place in 2006 when a terror plot was foiled on a trans-Atlantic flight in 2006.
In the departures hall, those airport bottlenecks could be on the way out.
Less Stress
"The ceasing of restrictions will no doubt be widely welcomed," federal transport minister Anthony Albanese told the Sunday Telegraph. "It will make air travel easier and less stressful for passengers as well as free security staff to better focus on their core screening responsibilities."
Around 8,000 items have been handed over at Sydney Airport every month, including about 1,250 duty-free products.
But Don't Get Too Excited, That Laptop Still Has to Be Searched
Existing arrangements for the screening of laptops and similar devices will remain, reports Australian Business Traveller.
But the future could be brighter: international efforts are searching for technology so travelers won't have to remove laptops from carry-on luggage.
That would mean more privacy - and shorter queues.
Did somebody say travelers' rights?
