Restrictions to cause delays at DXB

Passenger processing rates at Dubai International Airport will drop by a quarter when restrictions on carrying liquids, aerosols and gels in hand luggage come into force next month, according to Dubai Civil Aviation Authority’s head of security.

Alan Skennerton said instead of screening four passengers a minute, the airport would only manage to screen three a minute.

“Going on our colleagues in other airports who have been applying these restrictions already… there is basically a 25% reduction in the passenger processing rate,” Skennerton told ArabianBusiness.com.

Such a dramatic drop in the speed passengers pass though security could cause huge delays.

Skennerton admitted delays would be inevitable. “Certainly [the restrictions] will slow things down, but I’m hoping that after a couple of days the process will become a bit quicker,” he said. “I suspect there will be delays for the first month or so until word gets out.”

The times when the restrictions will have the biggest impact, Skennerton said, would be between 1am and 3am and between 6am and 8am, when the airport is at its busiest.

The restrictions, which are being implemented at airports across the region, require passengers to place all liquids carried in hand luggage in individual containers no greater than 100ml.

All containers must be placed in one transparent re-sealable transparent bag, no larger than 20cm x 20cm in size, and passengers are only allowed to carry one bag each.

Skennerton said Dubai airport would not provide the bags, but that it would make them available for the first three months.

Security measures are also being imposed on duty free. Skennerton said any passengers in transit at their next destination would need to place purchased items in a sealed tamper evident bag (Steb), a transparent shopping bag provided at the customer checkout.

The biggest problem area for airport staff will be items exempt from the restrictions, he said. Under the regulations, items considered necessary for dietary or medical purposes will be allowed through in quantities greater than 100ml if they can be justified.

Similar regulations on liquids carried in hand luggage have been in place in the UK and US since last year.

Skennerton said Dubai had not put these restrictions in place sooner because the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) — the body that decides security standards for civil aviation worldwide — had not ratified them. He said there was no specific threat to Dubai.

He said threat that prompted the UK and US to up their security last year was specific to the UK and involved targeting American carriers, none of which operate out of Dubai.

US airline Delta will begin flights from Dubai next month, and Skennerton said it would have the same security as some other airlines, including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, that require additional restrictions, such as an extra screening at the boarding gate.

He said liquid restrictions already applied at the boarding gate to flights out of Dubai headed for Australia and the US.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Restrictions to cause delays at DXB
Posted by Bruce, Dubai, UAE on Tuesday 5 June 2007 at 12:00 UAE time


Any additional security i am all for, providing some fo the security staff in Dubai Airport realise that WE, the passengers are human, and that they deal with us in a correct manor. On many occasions in the past few years there has been the views that the passenger matters not, they have been rude and just laugh when you tell them, or they pretend that they do not understand, i realise that they do not have an easy job, but they should also be trained that little bit better in Customer Service.

Delays
Posted by Gloria, Sharjah, UAE on Tuesday 29 May 2007 at 19:09 UAE time


I prefer the slight delay in the name of security and would prefer to see eye and luggage scanning for both inbound and outbound passengers. Today, some people seem to think it is a joke to come in and out of the emirates on false passports even when they have life bans from entering the UAE.  
Security in all shapes and forms is to be applauded so we do not experience another Wafi Center robbery or huge bank frauds. 
Keep increasing the security - I want to feel safe like it used to be here, not threatened.

ANTICIPATED DELAYS AT DUBAI AIRPORT
Posted by Buddhadeb Mookerjee, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 27 May 2007 at 17:00 UAE time


This is not good news. Passenger handling at Dubai airport has witnessed phenomenal increase over the past few years leading to painful delays. One has to admire the relentess efforts of the autorities at Dubai Airport to provide highest levels of comfort to the passengers overcoming the challenges posed by the ever increasing traffic. However, the supply keeps falling short to cope with the passenger growth. Under the circumstances, adding to the delays by introducing more complicated security systems will not be customer friendly.  
At the same time security requirements are in the interests of the passengers only and they will grin and bear the additional trouble. But since the consequence of the security measures are known in advance why cannot appropriate technology be put in place and in time so that the discomfort is mitigated? In this age of technology this should be eminently possible given the deep pockets of the airport autorities.

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