Powders: understanding the threat

摘要

Many travellers in Australia, New Zealand and the United States were surprised in 2018 by new restrictions on what they could carry on board an aircraft. Passengers were already used to limitations on the amounts of liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) and the removal of laptops and large electronics from cabin baggage for the purposes of screening, along with the divestment of shoes, coats, scarves, hats, coins, watches, mobile phones, belts and the assortment of other items people carry while travelling. Then, they were further inconvenienced by the subsequent introduction of fresh restrictions placed on the carriage of powders. The TSA and Canada's CATSA limited the carriage of powder-like substances in carry-on baggage to 12 ounces (approximately 350ml) per person. Australia ruled that for international flights, 'inorganic powders must be in containers of 350 millilitres (volume), 350 grams (weight) or less, the total volume of inorganic powders must not exceed 350 millilitres, 350 grams per person' and 'passengers cannot tip powders out to fall under the 350ml threshold as the restriction is calculated on total container volume'. New Zealand imposed similar limitations however, so far at least, the restrictions have not been rolled out globally.