Monday, September 16, 2024

Security rule changes at Dublin Airport come into effect today

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Passengers “must be prepared to remove all liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) from their hand luggage prior to screening, with all LAGs to be under 100mls,” the airport said.

The changes come in response to a temporary restriction introduced by the European Commission, and apply to all airports in the EU. It is not known for how long they will remain in place.

It comes as the rollout of new C3 scanners in Dublin, Shannon and Ireland West airports has seen the removal of 100ml liquid limits in many cases, with passengers also allowed to keep laptops and liquids in their hand luggage.

With the C3 rollout at different stages in Dublin Airport’s Terminal 1 and 2, the changes differ slightly for each.

Terminal 1:

  • All liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) in hand luggage must be under 100mls
  • All LAGs must fit inside one clear 1 litre bag
  • Only one bag is permitted per passenger
  • Passengers should be prepared to take large electronic items (laptops, tablets etc) out of their bags

Terminal 2:

  • All liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) in hand luggage must be under 100mls
  • All LAGs should be put into clear bags, but there is no limit on the number of bags per passenger
  • Large electronic items (laptops, tablets etc) can stay in hand luggage

“In Terminal 2, all of the security lanes in operation are now fitted with new C3 scanners, so all passengers are assured of using a C3 scanner,” said Dublin Airport’s managing director, Gary McLean.

“However, in Terminal 1, due to the age of the building, the rollout is taking slightly longer, so it cannot be guaranteed whether a passenger will go through a lane with C3 scanners installed or the older technology.”

Dublin Airport is on track to complete the rollout of its C3 scanners by October 2025, it has confirmed.

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The European Commission announced the temporary rule changes on July 31, describing them as “a precautionary measure” and stating that current C3 configurations “need to be revised in order to improve their performance”.

The Airports Council International Europe described the move as “erasing the main benefit” of the C3 scanners, and likely to cause airports “significant operational strain”.

“Security is non-negotiable, it is one of the top priorities of European airports. Therefore, all airports will fully comply with the new restriction,” said ACI director general Olivier Jankovec.

“However, airports that have been early adopters of this new technology are being heavily penalised, both operationally and financially.”

“We hope that these temporary restrictions are only in place for a short period and that the EU will be able to lift them as soon as possible,” Mr McLean added.

Passengers have also been warned to expect new procedures at Shannon Airport and Ireland West from September 1 (Cork Airport does not have C3 scanners, so its security procedures will not change).

At Shannon, passengers will need to keep liquids, gels, lotions and cosmetics carried in their hand luggage in containers of no more than 100ml, it says.

However, they but do not need to keep them in plastic bags or remove them from baggage.

At Ireland West in Knock, passengers must also observe the 100ml limit, store LAGs in clear plastic bags, and remove them from cabin baggage before going through security.

The guidelines do not affect electronics items – such as laptops and phones – at either airport.

Exceptions remain in place for essential items over 100ml such as baby products and medications, which must be placed in a clear transparent bag, separate to LAGs.

You can find Dublin Airport’s security advice here, Shannon Airport’s here, Cork Airport’s here, and Ireland West’s here.

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