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“This is part of our investment toward getting back to the good old days before 2006, when there were no restrictions on LAGs at all for passengers.“ |
Olivier Jankovec Director General ACI Europe |
EUROPE. The new EU rules for passengers carrying liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) take effect today. They are being introduced as part of a wider plan to lift the ban on the carriage of LAGs altogether.
The new regime will allow travel retailers anywhere in the world to sell LAGS in quantities above 100ml to passengers travelling to EU or European Economic Area states and transferring onwards. ETRC said the move would improve sales and enhance the passenger experience.
Airports in the European Union, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, USA and Canada will use enhanced technology at transfer security points to screen LAGs over 100ml sold in duty free shops and packed in approved security tamper-evident bags (STEB).
ACI Europe said today: “The new rules will have minimal direct impact on EU air passengers as their primary function is to facilitate passengers travelling from/to non-EU airports transferring at EU airports and the LAGs in question are only those purchased (and correctly packaged) at airport shops and on board air carriers.”
Director General Olivier Jankovec added: “The new LAGs regime starting today is the fruit of strong cooperation with the European Commission, national authorities and international partners, as well as other industry stakeholders. Europe’s airports are ready and have spent in excess of €150 million to accommodate the change. This will enhance the airport experience of transfer passengers who until now had to surrender their duty free purchases from non-EU airports and air carriers.”
He added: “This is part of our investment toward getting back to the good old days before 2006, when there were no restrictions on LAGs at all for passengers. We are committed to reaching that ambitious end goal and we will continue our cooperation with the European Commission and the other partners. This will require further advancements in screening technology, in terms of security, operational feasibility and passenger facilitation. It’s only by taking all these into account, that we will remove the hassle out of this aspect of air travel.”
