Melanie
September 14th, 2006, 09:50 AM
Thursday September 14, 05:48 AM
LONDON (Reuters) - The government is likely to announce an easing of air travel rules next week after security was tightened last month in the wake of what police said was a foiled plot to bomb airliners.
"We intend to announce new regulations next week," a spokesman for the Department for Transport (DfT) said on Wednesday.
A ban on liquids in hand luggage and smaller limits on the size of carry-on
bags was imposed last month, according to officials who said they had disrupted a plot to bring down U.S.-bound flights over the Atlantic.
Regarding this, the spokesman said, "We always said we would keep those (steps) under review."
A meeting of government and airline industry officials is set for Monday, and the DfT spokesman said an announcement on revised rules was likely later in the week.
Airport operator BAA, which owns Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports, said it expected the restrictions to be eased within 24 hours of Monday's meeting.
"We welcome any move by the DfT which they feel is appropriate and has the added benefit of making passengers' journeys easier," a BAA spokesman said.
One airline source told Reuters that the government had indicated that the restrictions on luggage and liquids would be eased.
"We are expecting something to happen next week," the source said.
More than 2,000 flights were cancelled in the country last month after the government ordered tighter checks on passengers and luggage.
The United States upped its aviation security alert and also imposed restrictions on bottled drinks, lotions and other liquids in carry-on luggage.
"The current U.S. security protocols remain in place with no timeline for changes," the Transportation Security Administration said in a statement in Washington on Wednesday.
British Airways estimated its lost revenues and the cost of hotel rooms for stranded passengers and of repatriating lost luggage at 40 million pounds.
BAA said the extra security and lost revenues had cost it an estimated 13 million pounds.
Budget carriers such as Ryanair and easyJetin particular rely on rapid airport turnaround times to maximise profits.
"We strongly welcome a return to normal for all flights from the UK," a Ryanair spokesman said.
($1=.5337 Pound)
(Additional reporting by Michael Smith)
LONDON (Reuters) - The government is likely to announce an easing of air travel rules next week after security was tightened last month in the wake of what police said was a foiled plot to bomb airliners.
"We intend to announce new regulations next week," a spokesman for the Department for Transport (DfT) said on Wednesday.
A ban on liquids in hand luggage and smaller limits on the size of carry-on
bags was imposed last month, according to officials who said they had disrupted a plot to bring down U.S.-bound flights over the Atlantic.
Regarding this, the spokesman said, "We always said we would keep those (steps) under review."
A meeting of government and airline industry officials is set for Monday, and the DfT spokesman said an announcement on revised rules was likely later in the week.
Airport operator BAA, which owns Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports, said it expected the restrictions to be eased within 24 hours of Monday's meeting.
"We welcome any move by the DfT which they feel is appropriate and has the added benefit of making passengers' journeys easier," a BAA spokesman said.
One airline source told Reuters that the government had indicated that the restrictions on luggage and liquids would be eased.
"We are expecting something to happen next week," the source said.
More than 2,000 flights were cancelled in the country last month after the government ordered tighter checks on passengers and luggage.
The United States upped its aviation security alert and also imposed restrictions on bottled drinks, lotions and other liquids in carry-on luggage.
"The current U.S. security protocols remain in place with no timeline for changes," the Transportation Security Administration said in a statement in Washington on Wednesday.
British Airways estimated its lost revenues and the cost of hotel rooms for stranded passengers and of repatriating lost luggage at 40 million pounds.
BAA said the extra security and lost revenues had cost it an estimated 13 million pounds.
Budget carriers such as Ryanair and easyJetin particular rely on rapid airport turnaround times to maximise profits.
"We strongly welcome a return to normal for all flights from the UK," a Ryanair spokesman said.
($1=.5337 Pound)
(Additional reporting by Michael Smith)