Air passengers’ travel documents will be checked

In accordance with a new EU security regulation, passengers are required to present a valid travel document before entry to security restricted areas of the airport as of 29 April 2010.
A valid travel document is any document which shows that the passenger intends to take a flight on that day. It can be e.g. a boarding card issued by the airline, an electronic flight ticket printed at home or at the airport or an sms.

The document and its validity will be checked before the passenger is allowed access to the security restricted area.

A printed boarding card or an sms can be read without any special devices. If the boarding card or sms contains a bar code, it can also be read by an electronic reader.

Restrictions on carriage of liquids are gradually reduced

EU seeks to gradually ease the restrictions on carriage of liquids in aircraft cabin. The goal is to switch from restrictions to more efficient screening of liquids. This poses new challenges on security screening equipment.

Passengers are already allowed to take any liquids bought at an international airport in USA, Canada, Singapore and certain airports in Croatia through the security check when transferring to another flight within the EU, if the liquids are correctly packed. As of 29 April, also liquids bought in Kuala Lumpur can be carried on a connecting flight.

In spring 2011, liquid restrictions applicable to transfer passengers will be further alleviated. The goal is to lift most of the security restrictions on the carriage of liquids by year 2013 and replace them with new methods of security screening.

In practice, the implementation of these alleviations requires advanced security screening technology and investments in new equipment.

Further information

Auli Kankkunen, Head of Security, Finnish Transport Safety Agency Trafi, Aviation Sector, tel. +358 20 618 6074