Passengers now can carry up to 100 milliliters of perfume on flights departing Guangzhou's Baiyun Airport, New Express reported today.
The airport in the capital city of Guangdong Province has adopted a national ban on passengers carrying liquids aboard planes since March 14. The ban was issued to improve security after a terrorist attack against a China Southern Airlines flight was thwarted on March 7.
Baiyun Airport's security department exempted perfume from the ban after fulfilling the policy even though no passengers were reported to have missed flights due to the increased safety measures, the Guangzhou-based newspaper said.
Many passengers complained that they usually carry perfume and the ban might cause inconvenience or even losses because some fragrances are expensive, the newspaper said.
A 19-year-old Uygur woman carried a camouflaged destructive device onboard flight CZ6901 on March 7, but was apprehended.
The attempted attack was planned by Eastern Turkestan separatist forces, said Wang Lequan, Party chief of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in Beijing on March 20.
Airline sources said crew members smelt gasoline on the woman who was leaving a toilet during the flight and then found a can containing liquid in the rest room's dustbin.
Another accomplice was caught trying to ignite fuel inside the plane's bathroom, previous reports said, citing an emergency notice circulated within the General Administration of Civil Aviation.
The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China then issued a notice banning passengers from taking any liquids on domestic aircraft.
(Shanghai Daily April 7, 2008)