Asian airports, airlines tighten security
Asia-Pacific airports and airlines bolstered security on Friday and slapped new restrictions.
By Agencies |
MANILA: Asia-Pacific airports and airlines bolstered security on Friday and slapped new restrictions on carry-on items after Britain disclosed it had foiled a terrorist plot to bomb U.S.-bound flights with liquid explosives. Long delays, plus dry mouths and dry skin, were likely to be the most immediate result of the new measures, which banned passengers from carrying liquids and gels with them when they board.
Restrictions applied mostly to flights going to the United States, in line with instructions from Washington. Carriers and airports in Australia, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand and the Philippines were among those imposing new rules.
“The potential use of liquid explosives brings a whole new menacing dimension to the terrorist threat,'' Prime Minister John Howard said in a radio interview. “It is a reminder sadly to all of us that terrorism is still a very live and menacing threat to the kind of existence that we've all taken for granted,'' Howard told radio 3AW.
Australia's Qantas Airways said its new restrictions would only apply to flights heading to the United States. But Howard said concerns about liquid explosives could lead to permanent restrictions liquids and gels on hand luggage on international and domestic flights. Not everyone was worried, though. Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said there was no reason to panic, and employees at the Indonesian capital's main international airport said everything was operating normally with no boosted security.
Restrictions applied mostly to flights going to the United States, in line with instructions from Washington. Carriers and airports in Australia, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand and the Philippines were among those imposing new rules.
“The potential use of liquid explosives brings a whole new menacing dimension to the terrorist threat,'' Prime Minister John Howard said in a radio interview. “It is a reminder sadly to all of us that terrorism is still a very live and menacing threat to the kind of existence that we've all taken for granted,'' Howard told radio 3AW.
Australia's Qantas Airways said its new restrictions would only apply to flights heading to the United States. But Howard said concerns about liquid explosives could lead to permanent restrictions liquids and gels on hand luggage on international and domestic flights. Not everyone was worried, though. Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said there was no reason to panic, and employees at the Indonesian capital's main international airport said everything was operating normally with no boosted security.
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