Starting from noon next Tuesday (May 8), all passengers leaving Singapore Changi Airport will have to comply with new restrictions on liquids, aerosols and gels in hand-carry luggage.

Liquid substances will have to be in containers and limited to no more than 100ml, and must be placed in transparent re-sealable plastic bags not exceeding a 1-litre capacity. Additionally, each passenger will only be allowed one bag.

 

To help passengers cope with the new security measures, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) will be implementing a series of initiatives to inform and assist them.

More than 100 airports ambassadors will be stationed throughout the airport to handle queries, and information panels will be set up in areas like the Departure Hall and Departure Transfer Lounges to educate passengers, said a CAAS media statement today.

Pamphlets will be available at information desks and regular announcement will be made regarding the new restrictions. Tables will be set up at the Departure Hall and Departure Transfer Lounges for those who need to re-pack their belongings.

To facilitate ease of travel, CAAS also recommends that all passengers have their bags packed in accordance with the new guidelines before arriving at the airport, and to check in two to three hours before the flight, subject to specific airlines' requirements.

The new guidelines stipulate that containers larger than 100ml will not be accepted, even if it is only partially-filled. Although there is no restriction on the number of containers, they must fit comfortably within the transparent re-sealable bag, which has to be closed completely.

 

Additionally, the plastic bags must be presented separately for examination at the security screening point.

Exemptions will be made for medications, baby food and special dietary items in the liquid, aerosol or gel form. They will however be subject to additional checks at the security screening point.

Passengers who purchase liquids, aerosols and gels items like liquor and perfumes at Changi Airport will have their purchases sealed in tamper-evident bags by the shops, with the receipts clearly shown in the packaging.

Passengers departing from Seletar Airport or Changi Airport face the same restrictions, and it will also apply to those making transit or transfer connections in Singapore.

The new regulations are based on the International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) recommendations made after the foiled aviation terror plot in the United Kingdom in August 2006, and the latest advisories set out by ICAO on March 30, 2007.

What are liquids, aerosols and gels?

• Drinks, including water and juices
  
• Soups and sauces
  
• Perfumes and deodorants (liquid or liquid-solid mixture)
  
• Creams, balms, lotions and oils
  
• Cosmetics such as mascara and lip gloss
  
• Pastes, including toothpaste
  
• Pressurised foams and sprays, including shaving foam, hairspray and spray deodorants
  
• Gels, including hair and shower gels
  
• Contact lens solution
  
• Any other items of similar consistency