[textarea]
Glasgow Airport trials new security screening method to cut queues
The security area at Glasgow Airport is to be remodelled in an attempt to cut delays caused by the many passengers still ignoring restrictions on liquids imposed nearly five years ago, the Scotland on Sunday reports. The airport revealed that security staff are continuing to confiscate hundreds of containers a day, with up to ten bin bags of containers disposed of every 24 hours.
Oversize (more than 100 ml) containers remain a major headache for airports. The problem appears to be most acute with passengers travelling with just hand luggage, who believe the restrictions do not apply to them because they have no checked-in luggage in which to stow larger bottles. In order to try to lessen the affect this has on security queues, Glasgow Airport have launched a trial of new procedures in the search area.
New ‘prep station’ tables have been introduced for passengers to take out liquids and other items from their hand luggage that have to be put through X-ray machines separately. This will enable to staff to intercept oversize containers before passengers join the X-ray queues.
Source[/textarea]
The fundamental problem is people aren't listening or taking any notice of the restrictions. This is through no fault of their own as restrictions are perceived to be changing all the time and to be fair they have changed somewhat over recent years.
After 9/11 restrictions were imposed on carrying knives and sharp items. This was followed by the attempted bomb plot to blow-up aircraft flying out of London Heathrow airport. Subsequent restrictions banning liquids were brought in except for medicinal liquids prescribed by a doctor. Shortly after, these restrictions were relaxed to allow carry on liquids of no more than 100ml placed in a clear resealable bag. Since then there have been further relaxation to some carry on items because of rules imposed by Europe under the EC300 which is meant to create European wide consistency.
The particular system imposed by The Department For Transport whereby passengers must carry liquid items of no more than 100ml in a clear resealable bag has numerous flaws because of it's reliance on the passenger to follow the rules and declare their clear resealable bag before the security point. This is why so many people are still bringing liquid items to the security point.
The allowance of 10Kg of hand luggage by many low cost operators only serves to aggravate the situation. When passengers only use carry only luggage, they nearly always carry toiletries required for their trip within their 10Kg allowance. Again there is an enormous reliance on the passenger to declare these liquids and many passengers will 'try to dodge the system' thinking they will get away with it.
The Department For Transport or European Law should either ban all liquids except those proscribed by a doctor or allow them all. The current system in place doesn't nothing other than confuse passengers.