Confusion lands airport with one million cans of deodorant

Published on Tuesday 3 June 2008 10:23

MORE than one million cans of deodorant have been seized from passengers confused over tough security rules on carrying liquids through Edinburgh Airport.

New figures released by airport operator BAA show that half a tonne of items have been confiscated every week by security staff since rules on carrying liquids over 100ml changed in November, 2006.

Aerosols account for around half of the 50-tonne haul but bottles of whisky, plastic water bottles and shaving gels are among the other items regularly seized. All plastic bottles, aerosols and sharp items are recycled but the rest of the goods are binned, including the alcohol, which is poured away before the bottles are also trashed.

Passenger groups today called on the airlines to do more to publicise the rules when selling tickets, while airport bosses urged travellers to familiarise themselves with the rules before the summer rush gets under way.

Stevie Hastie (pictured above), a security officer for BAA Edinburgh Airport, said: "Passengers don't really know what is classed a 'liquid', which is what the regulations talk about.

"For example, lots of people don't realise that shaving gel or deodorants are liquids.

"So they turn up at the airport, check-in their hold luggage, make their way to security then have to offload their toiletries because the containers they are in are too big.

"It's such a waste. Most people just don't seem to remember that they've got pastes, gels or drinks in their bag and are pretty understanding when you explain that it has to be confiscated. Occasionally a passenger does get upset but we've just got to remind of the rules and the fact that they are in place for security reasons."

Earlier this year Edinburgh Airport was officially crowned as Scotland's busiest and now handles more than nine million passengers a year.

Over the course of last year, 29 new international services were introduced at Edinburgh and budget airline Ryanair will have introduced a further 17 routes by the end of this year.

James Fremantle, industry affairs manager at passenger watchdog the Air Transport Users Council, said: "The liquids issue is still very much a big problem, particularly for people who only travel possibly once a year.

"It is important that we get on top of it though because it slows down the whole airport process for everyone and creates additional costs for the airport operator which do eventually filter down to the passengers.

"I am not sure there is a lot more the airports can do but I think the airlines have a duty to play a bigger role in informing customers of the rules.

"We are calling on the airlines to do more to get the message across."

The rules on carrying liquids were introduced by the Government in November 2006 following an alleged terror plot against UK airports. Passengers are allowed to take liquids through security at Edinburgh so long as they are in individual containers of no more than 100ml and are put in a clear plastic bag.