Restrictions in Europe and the USA limit passengers to carrying liquids in 3.4-ounce containers in the cabin because of the threat of explosives. The European policy change in January is modest, applying basically to travelers connecting on flights at an airport while carrying a bottle of liquor or perfume from a duty-free shop.
If security officials become confident that the change doesn't open the door to explosives, the European Commission goal eventually is to allow all passengers to keep all sizes of liquids, aerosols and gels with them.
"This should lead to a complete lifting of restrictions in 2016," said Dale Kidd, a European Commission spokesman. "The operational impact of this first phase will be carefully evaluated and pave the way for further steps expanding the types of liquids, aerosols and gels that passengers will be able to bring with them in cabin baggage."
In the USA, the Transportation Security Administration is monitoring the experiment. John Halinski, deputy administrator of the TSA, said he would like to end the liquid restrictions "sooner rather than later" to focus on more serious threats, because more than half the time passengers are simply carrying water bottles.
First, security officials must confirm that scanning machines catch explosives efficiently without giving off too many false alarms. The problem with liquid screening is too many false-positive results, which would gum up checkpoint lines.
But the machines have improved during the past decade. Manufacturers say the tests are brisk and reliable.
Restrictions against carry-on liquids date to August 2006, when British authorities foiled a plot to destroy an airliner with liquid explosives. A month after a ban was created for liquids in carry-ons, the TSA allowed as many 3.4-ounce containers as fit in a clear 1-quart plastic bag in carry-on baggage.
The restriction remains contentious. About one in eight leisure travelers cited restrictions on liquids as the most frustrating part of screening, according to a 2012 survey by the International Air Transport Association. One in four travelers acknowledged smuggling restricted-size liquids through security, according to a 2011 survey by the travel-search site Skyscanner.com.
Starting Jan. 31, passengers connecting through European airports will be able to carry duty-free bottles from other countries through checkpoints in special plastic bags called STEB, for security tamper-evident bags.
Some of the machines that will scan liquids look like standard conveyor belts for carry-on bags, such as Smiths Detection's aTiX and Safran Morpho Detection's XDi. Others will scan each bottle individually.
If a liquid sets off an alarm, Battelle's LS10, which looks a bit like a table-top slot machine, can be used to double-check the result. The screener puts a container on the machine like a self-serve scanner at the supermarket and pulls down the one-armed bandit to screen the liquid in two to five seconds.
One part of the test is a low-power radio-frequency pulse, which distinguishes flammable liquids from water and soda. Another test uses ultrasound, which gauges the liquid's density and compressibility.
If security officials learn of new liquid threats, the machine's software can be updated.
Battelle machines are being installed at London's Heathrow, along with Aberdeen, Southampton and Glasgow; at several airports in Scandinavia and in Australia's Brisbane and Sydney airports.
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