New Indpress
 
Bangalore, Oct 19: Nearly 20 days after the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) relaxed the ban on passengers carrying liquids, creams and gels on board, not many people are aware of it. This includes some airlines staff as well.

While a majority of passengers were told that they were allowed to carry liquids on a flight only after reaching the airport, the confusion among some airline staff resulted in several passengers being barred from carrying even small quantities of liquids and creams.

“The authorities should have given sufficient publicity to the lifting of the ban, just like it was done while enforcing it,” says a passenger.

As per the latest notification by the BCAS, passengers can carry 100 ml of liquid or cream in a transparent, resealable one litre plastic bag. However, the contents of the plastic bags will also be subjected to security checks.

Liquid medicines are also being allowed into the flight in the hand baggage as long as passengers have a prescription for it. “Earlier there was some restriction on taking cosmetics like lipsticks into the flight, but now security officials are allowing them,” said an official.

The ban was imposed on liquids and creams following a security breach at London’s Heathrow airport last August.

With the relaxation applicable to domestic as well as international flights, it will make travelling by air a little easier. This move has also provided some relief to the airport officials as the ban had caused many a heated exchange between security personnel and passengers.

What can you carry

•  Small quantity of liquid items, gels, toothpastes, beverages, shampoos, creams and other such items.
•  Medicines/inhalers.
•  They should not exceed 100 ml and should be carried in a transparent plastic bag.
•  They will be subjected to mandatory screening and checks.