Saturday, September 09, 2006

MAS passengers to UK can now carry liquid-based items

Kuala Lumpur: With immediate effect, passengers on direct flights from Malaysia to the United Kingdom are allowed to carry liquid or gel-based items on board aircraft.

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) said in a statement here today that the decision was made following a revision by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) on the guidelines on cabin baggage contents for the route.

Passengers and items brought into the aircraft will, however, remain subject to a high level of checks at departure gates and passengers are thus advised to report early for check-in to complete the security screening and to ensure on-time flights departure, the statement says.

Passengers connecting to other flights or departing out of London Heathrow or any other United Kingdom airport are still subject to the British Airport Authority (BAA) security measures, it adds.

The BAA had, among others, strictly prohibited all liquid or gel-based items except baby formula or milk or baby food (subjected to testing), or essential medicines up to 50ml.

Each passenger is allowed one carry-on baggage no larger than 45cm (17.7in) x 35 cm (13.7in) x 16cm (6.2in), while laptops and electical items are required to be removed from carry-on bags for screening.

The statement says the DCA has also confirmed that the existing cabin guidelines for flights to the United States will continue to apply.

MAS passengers to Los Angeles and New York have been advised to remove liquids or gels of any size from their hand baggage before check-in.

This includes beverages, shampoo, suntan lotion, creams, toothpaste, hair gel, and other items of similar consistency, which should be transported in checked baggage, which otherwise would be confiscated at the point of boarding.

Further security screening is also being enforced at Stockholm before onward journey to New York and also at Taipei before the onward journey to Los Angeles.

Passengers can contact MAS' 24-hour toll-free line 1300 88 3000 for further details on this.

MAS currently operates 18 weekly flights between KLIA and London, five weekly flights between KLIA and Los Angeles via Taipei and three weekly flights between KLIA and New York via Stockholm.

Source: Daily Express

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