A directive has been put in place by the European Union with an April 2013 deadline for the lifting of the ban on liquids in containers greater than 100 millilitres, according to the BBC. Yet due to security reasons, flights to the UK will still have restrictions placed upon them.
The gradual removal of these regulations has reportedly already started. This Friday will see the lifting of restrictions on some duty-free purchases of transfer passengers at EU airports outside the United Kingdom.
This means transfer passengers on flights that originating outside the EU will be allowed to carry duty-free goods on connecting flights. However, UK Transport Secretary, Phillip Hammond, has ruled this out at UK airports due to security policies.
Despite the lifting of the regulations, the Airport Operators Association believes the technology required to scan liquids in carry-on bags is not yet ready.
However, the EU wants progress to be made more quickly.
Talking to the Guardian, EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas commented: “Some airports are questioning the rationality of lifting the ban because life is easier as it is.” But, he said, “politically, that is unacceptable. I would like airports to make [the] necessary investments so we can lift the ban as agreed for transfer passengers.”
This partial change means passengers will be able to carry bottles bought at airport duty-free shops onto flights at Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Paris, but not at Heathrow. Therefore airport operators are concerned the partial lifting of the ban could lead to confusion over what passengers can bring onto planes.
