Airport Security Ban On Liquids "Indefinite"

The European Commission has postponed the lifting of the ban on liquids over 100ml at airports indefinitely.

The ban was immediately put in place following the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot, which employed liquid explosives, and was to be reviewed April next year.

In their statement, the European Commission stated: “The removal of the ... restrictions in April 2013, as currently envisaged in EU law, could present a considerable operational risk mainly due to the scale of the change.”

Indefinite Airport Liquid Ban

Airport leaders assert that security measures are currently not developed enough to proceed with the ban lift with the volume of passengers travelling through airports. Chief executive of the AOA, Darren Caplan, said "Currently, the new technologies and processes required to screen liquids, aerosols and gels are simply not yet mature or adequately tested to the needs of a massive European aviation sector, catering for 1.5 billion passengers and 400 airports.”

The relaxation of regulations would have allowed international passengers to transport approved liquids in hand luggage through connecting flights at EU transfer airports.

Caplan continues: “The Airport Operators Association lobbied for the liquids ban not to be lifted next year and so we applaud the decision taken by the European Commission to take a more realistic and progressive approach.”

He asserted: “We do want to see progress being made and the ban eventually lifted, but only when the technology has matured, and a seamless, rather than a more confused, security process can be assured.”

Airport Liquid Risk

Other security developments include The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) proposing reduced checks on children 12 and under, and travellers over 75. Ambassador Lisa Farbstein states: "Risk-based security is an understanding that the vast majority of travelers pose little risk to aviation security, and that the one-size-fits-all security model, which has been in place since the attacks of 9/11, needed to be re-evaluated."

Meanwhile, Russian airports will see larger volumes of water allowed on flights from September. The measure is a result of sensitive machinery being installed, capable of detecting liquid contents from a distance.

With the ban still in place in the EU, passengers must still adhere to not transporting liquids over 100ml on flights.

In their statement, the EU said, "Starting in January 2014 the commission recommends passengers should be able to carry on board all duty-free LAGs (liquids and gels) provided that they are screened."