SINGAPORE. Singapore Changi Airport today issued guidelines for passengers travelling from 8 May, when Singapore implements new aviation security rules for hand-held luggage.
The Singapore rules follow those laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and apply to departing and transiting passengers at Changi and Seletar Airports.
They include the 100ml per container restriction on liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) and passengers must place these in a transparent, re-sealable bag of no more than 1-litre capacity.
Crucially, the guidelines stress that passengers can shop as normal at Changi Airport, and that retailers will place any LAGs purchases in sealed tamper-evident bags, with the receipt clearly displayed. The guidelines also indicate that Changi Airport will accept transfer passengers’ LAGs purchases, provided they meet the ICAO regulations.
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Changi Airport is offering detailed advice – supported by images – on how to pack their re-sealable transparent bags | |
Changi also tells passengers that LAGs purchases made in Singapore will be accepted at other airports where passengers are transiting, but stresses that “some States may have their own specific requirements and may not allow all transfer/transit passengers to carry LAGs items purchased from foreign airports as their hand-carry luggage onto connecting flights, even if the LAGs purchases are placed in sealed tamper-evident bags”. Passengers should check with shop staff or their airlines, it adds.
Helpfully, Changi Airport also issued a detailed set of Frequently Asked Questions to accompany the new guidelines. We reproduce the section on shopping below.
SHOPPING AT CHANGI AIRPORT
Can I bring LAGs items purchased at Changi Airport’s shops onboard my flight?
Shops Within Public Areas
Passengers who purchase LAGs items from shops within Changi Airport’s Public Areas should place the items into their check-in luggage prior to checking in for their flight.
For items purchased from shops within Changi Airport’s Public Areas that are less than 100ml each, they can either be placed in the 1-litre transparent re-sealable plastic bag, which must be completely closed, to be hand carried, or into their check-in luggage. If the item is not essential for the flight, it is advisable that it be placed into the check-in luggage.
Shops Within Transit Malls
Passengers will be allowed to bring LAGs items, such as liquor, wine, beer, perfumes and cosmetics (including creams/lotions/gels), purchased at shops located within Changi Airport’s Transit Malls onboard their flight, provided that these items are placed in sealed tamper-evident bags by the shops, with the receipt clearly displayed in the sealed bags.
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Retailers will provide sealed bags similar to those pictured for passengers buying LAGs, but Changi Airport stresses that these must not be tampered with, as in the example on the right | |
If the items are in containers with a maximum capacity of not more than 100ml each, passengers may place these items in their 1-litre transparent re-sealable plastic bag. Please check with shop staff for details.
Do passengers have to pay for the bags?
No. The bags will be provided by the shops.
Can passengers purchase the tamper-evident bags from shops at Changi Airport for their own use?
No. Tamper-evident bags are controlled by the shops and are to be used only for their LAGs merchandise.
Can I bring LAGs items purchased at shops located within Changi Airport’s Transit Malls onboard my flight
LAGs items in containers with a maximum capacity of not more than 100ml each may be brought onboard their flight provided the containers fit comfortably within their 1- litre transparent re-sealable plastic bag, which must be completely closed. Passengers may bring LAGs items in containers larger than 100ml onboard their flight, if they are sealed in the tamper-evident bags provided by the shops within the Transit Malls. Passengers have to dispose of all other LAGs items before the security screening point.
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 | Click here for a full list of frequently asked questions |
Must LAGs items placed in sealed tamper-evident bags be removed from their boxes?
No, the items do not need to be removed from their boxes.
Can passengers bring more than one tamper-evident bag onboard their flight? Is there any limit on the number of bags that can be brought onboard the flight?
Passengers may bring more than one sealed tamper-evident bag onboard their flight.
Can more than one LAGs item purchased from shops within the Transit
Malls be placed in the same sealed tamper-evident bag?
Yes. If more than one LAGs item is purchased from the same shop in the Transit Mall, the items can be placed and sealed in the same tamper-evident bag with the receipt, reflecting the items that have been purchased, clearly displayed in the sealed bag.
Can I bring my own tamper-evident bag?
No. Only sealed tamper-evident bags provided by airport shops will be accepted. In addition, the receipt issued by airport shops must be clearly displayed in the sealed bag.
If I am transferring or transiting at Changi Airport, will my LAGs items purchased at other airports be accepted at Changi Airport? Will I be allowed to bring these items onboard my flight?
Yes, provided these items are in containers with a maximum capacity of not more than 100ml each and placed in a 1-litre transparent re-sealable plastic bag. Passengers will be allowed to bring LAGs items in containers larger than 100ml onboard their flight if these items are placed in sealed tamper-evident bags that meet ICAO’s guidelines, with the receipt clearly displayed in the sealed bag. The receipt must show the date of purchase, item(s) purchased, name of the shop and the name of the airport. Passengers will be asked to discard LAGs items that do not meet the above requirements.
If I will be transferring or transiting at another airport, will my LAGs items purchased at Changi Airport be accepted at the other airport?
Singapore’s implementation of the restrictions on carriage of LAGs in hand-carry luggage is in line with ICAO’s recommendation. In this regard, States that have similarly implemented ICAO’s guidelines should recognise LAGs items purchased at Changi Airport. However, some States may have their own specific requirements and may not allow all transfer/transit passengers to carry LAGs items purchased from foreign airports as their hand-carry luggage onto connecting flights, even if the LAGs purchases are placed in sealed tamper-evident bags. Passengers who are transferring or transiting at other airports should check with their airlines or Changi Airport shop staff for more details.
MORE ON THE AVIATION SECURITY CRISIS
Aviation security update: ICAO issues critical new letter to civil aviation authorities – 02/04/07
Australian off-airport duty free gains last-minute liquid reprieve – 30/03/07
APTRA update: New countries introduce aviation security regulations – 30/03/07
