Travel Insurance News - 17/12/2007
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UK airports are scheduled to lighten carry-on baggage restrictions on January 7, allowing passengers more than one piece of cabin luggage.
The Department for Transport (DfT) said that airports must convince them that the easing of restrictions will not lead to excessive delays in security scans. The DfT expects airports to upgrade their security scanners to new three-dimensional ones, but the high cost of these scanners may prove prohibitive to certain airports.
Neil Pakey, managing director of Liverpool Airport and head of the Airport Operators' Association, predicted that his airport would not be ready by the scheduled date. 'For us, an airport like Liverpool just would not have anything in place by January 7.'
According to airport operators, airlines can also choose whether or not passengers are allowed to carry more cabin baggage. Pakey pointed out the strong potential for confusion as UK airports end up with different rules, while even the airlines themselves may have yet another set of rules.
'Some of the airport operators say there's going to be a great deal of confusion because it looks as if there may be different rules at different airports,' Pakey said. 'It will be very inconsistent and to be honest, it's not an easy situation.'
A spokesperson from DfT suggested that passengers stay up to date regarding the changing restrictions, as it will be a slow and steady process.
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Passengers Warned of Inconsistent Changes in Baggage Rules
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