Flight Information

New security provisions on liquids in your carry-on baggage

New EU cabin baggage regulations effective November 6, 2006

All air travellers on flights departing from within the European Union or Switzerland will be subject to new regulations on the inclusion of liquids in their carry-on baggage from November 6. Under the new provisions, liquids may be brought on board in individual containers of up to 100 ml. Longer queues are expected at Europe's airports when the new rules come into force. In view of this, SWISS advises its customers to arrive at their airport of departure in good time for their flight.

With the entry into effect on November 6 of the new EU-wide security provisions, which have also been adopted for Switzerland by the Federal Office of Civil Aviation, all air travellers on flights departing from airports within the EU and Switzerland will be subject to new regulations on the cabin baggage permitted. Under the new rules, liquids, gels and creams may be taken on board provided they are in containers of 100 ml or less which are themselves carried in re-sealable transparent plastic bags up to one litre in volume and, like laptops, are separately presented at the security checkpoint. Only one such plastic bag is permitted per passenger. Suitable bags are available at various retail outlets.

Exceptions will continue to be made for medicines, baby food and food for diabetics, which can still be taken aboard in larger quantities provided these are intended for consumption during the flight. Travellers taking medicines aboard are advised to obtain a corresponding medical certification for them, written in English.

Passengers can continue to purchase liquids ? such as perfumes and spirits ? from SWISS's inflight duty-free sales. Liquids purchased at an EU-airport duty-free shop can also be taken on board under the new regulations.

All flights to the United States remain subject to special provisions, under which liquid duty-free goods may only be purchased in shops which are located beyond the security checkpoint.

The new EU regulations may result in longer queues before the security checkpoints at European airports. In view of this, SWISS advises its customers to arrive at their airport of departure in good time for their flight, and to pay due and full regard to all the new security provisions.

Max. 1 transparent plastic bag of up to 1 litre Max. 100 ml per container

What is a liquid?

"Liquids" under the new provisions include:
Aerosols
Chocolate spread
Cream cheese
Creams
Deodorants
Drinks of all kinds
Foams of all kinds
Gels
Hair gel
Liquid lipsticks (e.g. gloss)
Liquid mascara
Liquid/solid mixtures
Lotions
Oils
Pastes
Peanut butter
Perfumes
Roll-on deodorants
Shaving foam
Shower gel
Soft cheeses (e.g. Camembert) and cheese spreads
Soups
Sprays
Syrups
Toothpaste
Water
Yoghurt
or products of similar consistency

The following items will not be regarded as liquids:
Chocolate-spread sandwiches
Hard cheeses (e.g. Edam or Parmesan)
Peanut-butter sandwiches
Powders
Solid lipsticks
Talcum powder

Source: Swiss International November 2006

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