Bahrain airport will impose tough new baggage rules from 1 September

23 August 2007

Passengers flying out of Bahrain have to gear up for new restrictions being imposed on carrying aerosols and liquids as part of hand baggage from 1 September.

The new rules say that passengers travelling from and transiting through Bahrain International Airport have to undergo extra security screening for liquids, gels and aerosols. Prescription medicines are exempted, but only if accompanied by the prescriptions and only in "reasonable quantities". There are no other exceptions.

The measures are in response to security guidelines issued by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which wants to bring about complete uniformity in its rules all over the world. All international passengers departing from Bahrain or making transits on commercial flights, including chartered flights, will be affected by the new regulations.

A major campaign will be launched soon to publicise the new procedures.

According to the new procedures, all liquid, gel or aerosol containers of not more than 100ml each taken from home will be required to be carried in one standard re-sealable plastic bag with a maximum capacity not exceeding one litre. The plastic bag must be presented separately from the hand luggage and other items such as coats, jackets or laptops, at the X-ray checkpoint.

All liquids, gels or aerosols purchased from airport shops or the duty free in the security restricted areas (after the X-ray checkpoint) of the terminal on the day of travel will be screened and placed in approved security sealed, tamper-evident bags (STEBs), with receipts attached as proof of purchase.