New Delhi, January 21
Domestic flyers will no longer be allowed to carry more than one hand baggage in the aircraft. The move is aimed to ease out congestion and security concerns and reduce the burden at screening points at airports.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has asked the aviation authorities to implement the ‘One Hand Bag’ order meticulously.
As per the Bureau of Aviation Security (BCAS) Circular, no passenger should be permitted to carry more than one handbag barring a few exceptions, including women’s purses and laptop bags.
The CISF guards all key airports in India. Officials explained that passengers, carrying more than one handbag, were leading to increased clearance time as well as delays, congestion in security checkpoints and inconvenience to other travellers.
“However, it has been seen that passengers on an average carry 02-03 Nos of hand bags to the screening point. This has led to increased clearance time as well as delays, congestion in pre-embarkation security check (PESC) point and inconvenience to passengers. It is therefore felt that enforcement of the aforesaid Circulars must be ensured by all stakeholders/airlines,” read the circular.
The airport security force has directed all airlines to inform the passengers about the one hand bag rule by putting this information on boarding passes/tickets of travellers. “All airlines may be directed suitably to inform passengers and to display ‘one hand bag rule’ on their tickets/boarding passes very conspicuously,” it said.
It has also instructed airport operators to place hoardings in order to inform the passengers about the one hand bag rule. “Airport operators may be instructed to place hoarding/banner/board/ standees displaying the contents of the ‘One hand bag Rule’ near the check-in counters, vantage locations before SHA (security hold areas) at the airports, so that passengers get sensitised and if required, have an option to switch their extra hand bags to registered baggage,” the circular said.
It has also instructed airport operators to place hoardings in order to inform the passengers about the one hand bag rule.
“Airport operators may be instructed to place hoarding/banner/board/ standees displaying the contents of the ‘One hand bag Rule’ near the check-in counters, vantage locations before SHA (security hold areas) at the airports, so that passengers get sensitised and if required, have an option to switch their extra hand bags to registered baggage,” the circular further said.
