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London Heathrow Airport Frankfurt Germany Airport
Passengers face more airport chaos next week when cabin baggage rules change yet again. Fluids are to be allowed on flights leaving British airports for the first time in 13 weeks under new Europe-wide rules to take effect next Monday. "Once the official announcement is made, we're expecting bedlam," said a senior airport official.
At present, the UK imposes far stricter rules than countries on the Continent, although there are some absurd local exceptions: German airports currently allow liquids on European flights - except morning departures from Frankfurt. Although the new rules set a minimum standard, individual authorities will have the option to be more restrictive.
The change represents a tightening of rules for every European country except Britain, where it loosens the present no-liquids policy. Airport officials fear two repercussions. This week, some travellers will assume that the relaxed rules are already in effect, and turn up with prohibited fluids. And after Monday, many passengers are expected to carry more through the central search area, which will increase processing times, leading to longer queues and more delayed or missed flights.
What you can take on board
Now
* One item of cabin baggage, with maximum dimensions of 56cm x 45cm x 25cm. Musical instruments, pushchairs, wheelchairs and walking aids are permitted, but will be screened.
* Essential medicines for the flight (liquid and solid), so long as they are verified as authentic.
* Baby milk and liquid baby food - contents must be tasted by accompanying passenger.
From 6 November
* Liquids, gels, pastes and aerosols, including water, soft drinks, toiletries and cosmetics, in containers of 100ml or less can be taken on board.
* The containers must be carried in a resealable, transparent plastic bag with a maximum volume of one litre. Passengers are limited to one plastic bag each, and bags must be presented separately during luggage inspection.
The Independant - 30 October 2006
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London Heathrow British Tickets
Oasis Hong Kong Airlines Ltd. starts the first low-cost service from Hong Kong to London today, challenging Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. and other carriers on one of the city's busiest routes.
The first flight is scheduled to leave Hong Kong at 1 p.m. local time, carrying 300 passengers on the 12-hour trip to London's Gatwick airport. The airline is starting with four flights a week, which it will increase to seven next month.
Oasis adds to competition on the Hong Kong-London route, where four other carriers operate at least nine direct flights a day. The airline is offering one-way tickets on the route from HK$1,000 ($128), compared with Cathay's price of HK$3,530 for a flight on Dec. 1 booked via its Web site.
``There's going to be plenty of capacity on this route,'' Derek Sadubin, general manager of the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, said in a telephone interview from Sydney. ``That will be very price-competitive and will create pressure'' on yields, or revenue per passenger-kilometer flown, he added.
Unlike Ryanair Holdings Plc and other low-cost carriers that fly short-haul routes, Oasis offers passengers free meals and in- flight entertainment. It charges extra for soft drinks and amenity kits, and has business-class seats.
Bloomberg.com 30 Oct '06
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