Airlines could now strictly enforce the one-hand bag per passenger rule.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has red-flagged air travelers carrying more than 2-3 cabin bags and requested the aviation authorities to strictly implement the one handbag rule.
Civil Aviation Security
In a letter to the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), CISF inspector general Vijay Prakash has told carrying multiple bags is leading to increased time in security clearance at the airport, which in turn is leading to congestion.
“As per BCAS AVSEC Circular Nos. 06/2000 & Lt12000, no passenger should be allowed to take more than one handbag other than those items already listed in the circular, including a lady’s bag. However, it has been seen that passengers on average carry 02-03 Nos of handbags to the screening point.
This has led to increased clearance time as well as delays, congestion in PESC [Pre-embarkation security check] points, and inconvenience to passengers. It is, therefore, felt that enforcement of the afore told circulars must be provided by all stakeholders/airlines,” the letter said.
A senior CISF official who did not want to be named told, “Security clearance is delayed when passengers take more than one handbag. This results in congestion and also causes hindrance in security checks. Apart from the 11 items allowed to be carried bebesidene handbag by the BCAS, we have asked airlines to inform and restrict their passengers to rules.”
CISF officer said
Another CISF officer familiar with the matter told, “Some of the passengers seem to have forgotten the concept of ‘one hand bag’ and this letter is the reiteration of what is already the rule. The list of items permitted apart from one handbag includes readings materials, umbrellas, laptops, and a few items that may have an urgent necessity.
The official counted, “The moment you increase more than one handbag, you increase the load of the screeners. Taking more than the permitted number of handbags puts pressure on the screening system and also causes trouble to passengers as it leads to delay.”
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CISF asked BCAS to inform airlines to
CISF requested BCAS to announce airlines to depute staff to guide passengers and verify the number of handbags before permitting them for security checks. “All airlines may be directed suitably to inform pax [passengers] and to display ’one handbag rule’ on their tickets/boarding passes very conspicuously,” the letter said.
“Airport operators may be instructed to place hoahoarding/banneroard / standees displaying the contents of the ‘One handbag Rule’ around the check counters, vantage locations before security hold a place(SHA) at airports so that passengers get sensitized required, have an option to switch their extra handbags to registered baggage,” the letter concluded.
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