Will Canadian airports change carry on liquid limits amid U.K. plans? What we know – National | 24CA News
Every day in airports throughout the nation, Canadians really feel the sting of strict safety guidelines.
Shampoo bottles and refreshing drinks are banished to a bin. Carefully folded clothes is chaotically unfurled to peel a forgotten laptop computer from the underside of a bag.
But as U.Ok. airports intention to ditch restrictions on liquids and laptops in carry-on luggage throughout the subsequent two years, based on an announcement from its authorities final week, might change be within the air for Canadian travellers as nicely?
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Canada is testing know-how that might let passengers preserve liquids and huge electronics of their carry-on luggage as they go via safety on the airport, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) confirmed to Global News.
“We have been trialling new technology that may allow passengers to keep liquids and large electronics in their carry-on bags. Purchasing this equipment in Canada requires a competitive process that we plan to undertake shortly,” stated a spokesperson for CATSA.
The testing comes because the U.Ok. says new know-how will enable passengers within the coming years to hold on as much as two litres of liquids, aerosols and gels — a large improve from the present 100-millilitre restrict — and preserve massive electronics nestled of their baggage throughout safety screenings.
Canada is buying comparable know-how quickly, a spokesperson for CATSA stated.
“Given the number of airports in Canada, any adoption of this technology will need to be phased in over time,” reads the company’s assertion.
But officers usually are not but saying whether or not they’re eyeing the identical two-litre restrict because the U.Ok.
Will Canada match the U.Ok.’s rule adjustments?
Global News pressed Transport Canada and CATSA for specifics on how this new know-how being trialled might change passengers’ experiences at Canadian airports.
Officials declined to supply them, citing safety considerations.
“Should Computed Tomography be implemented in Canada, Transport Canada will advise how and when it may impact Canadians,” an announcement from Transport Canada learn.
“No decision has been made at this time.”
However, CATSA 2022’s annual report confirmed that it’s CT know-how that’s at the moment being trialled — the identical gear that’s altering the airport safety recreation within the United Kingdom.
The report stated this know-how would “improve security effectiveness and detection capabilities” at Canadian airports “while also reducing the need for passengers to divest items such as large electronics.”
“To prepare for this major initiative, CATSA will be conducting a trial of a PBS CT X-ray on a CATSA Plus line in spring 2022 and plans to incorporate findings from the trial into the procurement process,” the report stated.
While it’s unclear how Transport Canada and CATSA outline the “large electronics” that might stay nestled in carry-on baggage because it passes via safety, the adjustments being instated within the United Kingdom may also help paint an image of what’s attainable with the brand new gear.
As issues stand now, Canadians can’t keep on liquids, gels or aerosols in containers over 100 ml. On prime of that, these need to be put in a transparent, closed and resealable plastic bag no bigger than one litre — and you’ll solely keep on one in every of these liquid luggage.
Canadian airports additionally require laptops to be positioned in bins as they go via X-rays on the safety gate.
U.Ok. airports would possibly enable 2 L of liquids
British airports are anticipated to start out receiving new, high-tech 3D scanners by mid-2024, the U.Ok. authorities stated.
The gear is just like CT scanners utilized in hospitals and would enable airport employees to zoom in on a bag’s contents, then rotate the picture for inspection.
This know-how will enable passengers to hold liquids in containers holding as much as two litres, the U.Ok. authorities stated — that’s double the complete liquid allowance that at the moment exists within the U.Ok. and Canada.
It can even let travellers skip over the requirement to take away issues like laptops and tablets from their carry-on baggage, marking a serious shift from the normal guidelines at British airports.
The British authorities has billed the approaching change as a win-win for travellers and airport safety employees.
“Not only will it mean greater convenience for travellers – as people will no longer need to spend time taking items out of their bags – but it will also enhance passenger safety, as security staff will have more detailed images of what people are carrying,” the U.Ok. authorities stated.
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
