Rules on liquid in hand luggage relaxed in Spanish airports
Tuesday, February 4, 2014 @ 11:14 AM
AIRPORTS in Spain have relaxed restrictions on carrying liquids in hand luggage and plan to eliminate these altogether by 2016 in accordance with new European Union rules.
Since Friday (January 31), any drinks, aerosols or gels purchased in 'transit' countries whilst on connecting flights will be allowed through the X-ray machines.
They will only be scanned, not confiscated.
For example, if a passenger was travelling from a Latin American country to an airport in Italy and changing planes in Madrid, where he or she had bought a bottle of whisky in the duty free in the Latin American airport, it would be confiscated in Madrid.
But this will no longer be the case, provided it is in a sealed bag provided at the check-out by the duty free store.
The same would apply with duty free goods purchased on board a plane.
Also, liquids exceeding 100ml in volume which are classed as medication, baby food or diet products will now be allowed through into the departure lounge provided they are inspected first.
Spain's airport governing body, AENA, which manages the country's 47 terminals and 187 million annual passengers, believes the relaxation of the rules will only affect around one percent of travellers initially, but says that according to the European Commission, if this tentative first step is successful, liquids may no longer be prohibited in hand luggage two years from now.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com