As of 31 January, airports in the European Union, USA, and Canada will use enhanced screening technology at transfer security points to screen liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) over 100ml sold in duty-free shops and packed in ICAO Approved STEBs (Security Tamper-Evident Bag).

 

In the case of Australia, ETRC says the position ‘has still to be clarified’. Passengers transferring at the aforementioned airports will be allowed to continue their journey carrying LAGs which are sealed in a STEB accompanied by a receipt of purchase once successfully screened at the transfer airport security check point.

 

Frank O’Connell, Vice President and Strategic Advisor ETRC, said: “The implementation of these new rules is part of a journey towards simplifying the purchase and carrying of duty free and travel retail LAGs for transferring passengers, which once embedded, will have a positive effect on the transferring passenger experience.”

 

This move will allow travel retailers worldwide to sell to passengers travelling to any of these countries and transferring onwards, which ETRC expects will improve sales for retailers, whilst improving the passenger experience. Passengers on direct flights can continue purchasing whatever liquids, aerosols and gels they wish.

 

This news follows ETRC’s recent reconfirmation that heightened mainstream liquids restrictions at Russian airports do not include duty free purchases.

 

As previously reported, all three main Moscow Airports (Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo) have been issuing passenger information warnings on this change for several weeks now, following stricter regulations brought into all Russian Federation airports by the Russian Ministry of Transport ahead of the Sochi Winter Olympics next month.