Relaxation of air cabin security

Passengers on British aircraft will once more be allowed to eat their meals with metal cutlery after ministers agreed that airline security rules should be relaxed once more. According to the BBC, from 25 April small household items including nail scissors and knitting needles will also be allowed to be taken into planes’ cabins. The website reports that, because of increased security such as sealed cockpits, sky marshals and CCTV, ministers believe that sharp household goods no longer pose the threat they used to. A spokesman for the Department of Transport is quoted as saying: “Airline security is an ongoing issue that is under constant review. We are now of the view that there are enough security measures in place to allow passengers to bring these items back on to planes.” Specifically, the relaxation will allow knitting needles and scissors with blades less than 3cm long to be carried in hand luggage, while longer blades, corkscrews and penknives will remain on the banned list. The BBC quotes a British Airways spokesman as saying: “We are very keen to get metal cutlery back on our aircraft. If you are sitting in a first-class seat and getting served a nice meal on a porcelain plate, it is rather strange to have to eat it with a couple of plastic implements.” Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad