ThinkRate
12th Apr 2005, 10:49
Britain to relax rules on airline security.
Sky
Airline passengers will once again be dining with metal cutlery, knitting jumpers and manicuring their nails aboard flights from British airports following a relaxation of anti-terrorist rules.
Ministers have changed security guidelines because they believe some sharp household objects no longer pose a threat should they fall into the hands of a would-be hijacker.
Bladed and pointed items were banned from cabins after the September 11 attacks in which hijackers caused thousands of deaths with the help of sharpened box-cutters they had smuggled onto flights.
But transport chiefs now claim that security improvements such as sealed cockpits, closed circuit television and sky marshals have removed the need for prohibition.
"Airline security is an ongoing issue which is under constant review," said a spokesman for the Department of Transport.
"We are now of the view that there are enough security measures in place to allow passengers to bring these items back on to planes.
"Air marshals have been deployed. Cockpit doors are now locked. Access to the cockpit is now impossible for a passenger, and we can now relax the rules on certain items."
From April 25, passengers will be permitted to carry knitting needles and scissors with blades shorter than 3cm in their hand luggage.
British Airways managers said ministers had taken a "sensible" course by allowing their passengers to once again eat with steel knives and forks
link (http://www.airdisaster.com/news/0405/08/news.shtml)
Sky
Airline passengers will once again be dining with metal cutlery, knitting jumpers and manicuring their nails aboard flights from British airports following a relaxation of anti-terrorist rules.
Ministers have changed security guidelines because they believe some sharp household objects no longer pose a threat should they fall into the hands of a would-be hijacker.
Bladed and pointed items were banned from cabins after the September 11 attacks in which hijackers caused thousands of deaths with the help of sharpened box-cutters they had smuggled onto flights.
But transport chiefs now claim that security improvements such as sealed cockpits, closed circuit television and sky marshals have removed the need for prohibition.
"Airline security is an ongoing issue which is under constant review," said a spokesman for the Department of Transport.
"We are now of the view that there are enough security measures in place to allow passengers to bring these items back on to planes.
"Air marshals have been deployed. Cockpit doors are now locked. Access to the cockpit is now impossible for a passenger, and we can now relax the rules on certain items."
From April 25, passengers will be permitted to carry knitting needles and scissors with blades shorter than 3cm in their hand luggage.
British Airways managers said ministers had taken a "sensible" course by allowing their passengers to once again eat with steel knives and forks
link (http://www.airdisaster.com/news/0405/08/news.shtml)