Alex Trelinski
HAND luggage rules will be changed for some airline passengers leaving Spanish and EU airports from September 1.
The EU has ruled that expensive new security scanners installed by some airports were not up to scratch in dealing with larger items.
It will now switch back to previous luggage restrictions in regard to carrying liquids.
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The directive means all travellers will be limited to liquids in carry-on bags that are 100ml and under.
Airports at Barcelona and Madrid had introduced new C3 scanners this year as part of a roll-out across Spain.
The scanners are regarded as cutting edge technology which allow passengers to carry liquids without any restriction and to also keep them along with large electronic devices inside their cabin bags at security checkpoints.
The European airport trade association, ACI EUROPE, called the decision ‘a setback for the passenger experience and a blow to major investments made by airports’.
ACI director general, Olivier Jankovic, said: “Security is non-negotiable but with the new restrictions, early adopters of this new technology are being heavily penalised both operationally and financially.”
“The decision to now impose significant restrictions to their use questions the trust and confidence the industry can place in the current EU certification system for aviation security equipment.”
Jankovic was also critical that no timeline has been suggested by the EU for lifting restrictions once any issues had been sorted out.
