China's General Administration of Civil Aviation (CAAC) ordered
tight airport security across the nation on Friday after British
police foiled a terrorist plot to blow up aircraft between the
United Kingdom and the United States.
But no flights heading for the two countries were cancelled, the
CAAC said.
Starting from Friday, China's major international airports in
Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou all banned liquids or gels from
being taken aboard planes heading for the United States.
A news release issued by Beijing Capital International Airport
said that drinks, shampoo, suntan lotion, creams, toothpaste, hair
gel and any other liquids or gels are banned from the aircraft.
Passengers will have to leave these items in their check-in
luggage or dispose of them at security checks.
The only exceptions are for baby food when the baby is
traveling.
Penicillin and prescription medicine can still be taken onto the
planes if the prescription is in the ticket holder's name.
"We were told of the ban after we arrived at Beijing Capital
International Airport. Fortunately I managed to squeeze all my
cosmetics into my check-in bags," said Li Tingting, 22, a Chinese
exchange student traveling to the United States.
In addition to the requirements of the US Transportation
Security Administration for all flights bound for the country, the
Beijing airport has also asked every passenger to take off their
shoes for examination.
Examining shoes will be a regular part of the screening
procedure, said the airport.
Though many European airlines have cancelled flights to the
United Kingdom, none of the flights leaving Beijing for the United
States or the United Kingdom were cancelled.
"As far as I know, international flights leaving Beijing have
not been disrupted by the incident. British Airways' daily flight
for London took off at 10:52?AM as scheduled," said a member
of the airport's ground staff.
But travelers planning to buy cosmetics and liquor at the
airport's duty-free shops will be disappointed. According to the
security rules, liquid and gels bought at the airport are also
banned.
Hong Kong's Airport Authority also warned people flying on US
carriers to show up three hours in advance for security checks.
In another development, a China Southern airplane failed to take
off after seven attempts on Wednesday night, reported Beijing
Morning News.
Leaving Beijing for Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the flight
was finally cancelled. The airlines compensated the passengers and
arranged two other flights for them the next day.
(China Daily August 12, 2006)