Rules on liquid in hand luggage relaxed in Spanish airports

Since Friday (January 31), any drinks, aerosols or gels purchased in 'transit' countries whilst on connecting flights will be allowed through the X-ray machines.

They will only be scanned, not confiscated.

For example, if a passenger was travelling from a Latin American country to an airport in Italy and changing planes in Madrid, where he or she had bought a bottle of whisky in the duty free in the Latin American airport, it would be confiscated in Madrid.

But this will no longer be the case, provided it is in a sealed bag provided at the check-out by the duty free store.

The same would apply with duty free goods purchased on board a plane.

Also, liquids exceeding 100ml in volume which are classed as medication, baby food or diet products will now be allowed through into the departure lounge provided they are inspected first.

Spain's airport governing body, AENA, which manages the country's 47 terminals and 187 million annual passengers, believes the relaxation of the rules will only affect around one percent of travellers initially, but says that according to the European Commission, if this tentative first step is successful, liquids may no longer be prohibited in hand luggage two years from now.

This will be a decade after the initial restrictions came into force, on November 6, 2006.

After British police thwarted an attempt by terrorists to blow up an airline bound for the USA from Heathrow, having found liquid explosives in passengers' hand luggage, all quantities of fluids of 100ml or over were banned.

Quantities of lower than 100ml are permitted provided they are in containers designed for no more than one litre, and must be carried in transparent plastic bags which can be easily opened.

Containers designed for 100ml of liquid which are only partially full will mean security officers consider the liquid amount to be the full 100ml.

Certain makeup items such as mascara and lipstick are considered to be liquids.

Fluids not in clear plastic bags will be confiscated, even where they are loose in the luggage tray and can easily be seen or opened by security staff.

Passengers carrying drinks or baby milk within the set limits may be required to open and taste them in front of security officers to prove they are not harmful substances.

But from Friday, these strict measures are starting to slacken off in Spanish airports with a view to scrapping them altogether in two to three years' time.