Growing concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic has people panic buying hand sanitisers and stocking up on food items among others. Everyone has been advised to practise social distancing and also wash hands with soap or use hand sanitiser when soap is not viable. According to CNN, COVID-19 is in all of the 50 states in the US and the death toll now is at 100. With the number of cases exponentially increasing, people are taking their hand sanitisers with them everywhere.
How about at the airport? According to The Verge, in the US recent alterations to accommodate current events have been made by the Transportation Security Administration. Travellers can now bring 355ml of hand sanitiser with their carry on in comparison to the initial 100m and this adjustment does not concern any other liquid, only hand sanitiser. However, this applies to the US only.
In Malaysia, the restriction on liquids, gels and aerosols is set at 100ml and was introduced in May 2007. KLIA states:
Liquids, gels or aerosols brought from home must be placed in containers of not more than 100ml each and are required to be carried in one standard re-sealable plastic bag with a maximum capacity not greater than 1litre.
This is the standard set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on 11th December 2006. The guideline is followed all in the aviation industry. Now you might be wondering, why this peculiar ban and why just 100ml of liquid? The story goes back to the “Liquid Bomb Plot.”
Back in 2006, members of the al Qaeda had a notorious plan to use certain liquids like hydrogen peroxide to make bombs on the plane and eventually blow it up. Essentially the liquids will be disguised and brought into the plane, later on, it will be assembled into a bomb. The plot was set to take place in the UK, however, the plans for this were thankfully uncovered and according to the Independent UK, this plan if it would have occurred, could have killed more people than those who lost their lives in the 9/11 terror attack.
What ensued this chaos, was that all liquids were banned initially, not even pens were allowed onboard as the ink was liquid. However, this eventually settled and in December 2006 the standard 100ml for liquids was issued.
If you are flying out of Malaysia, please do take note that you cannot bring more than 100ml of any liquid in your carry-on luggage at the moment. However, if you plan on bringing more, you can always put them in your check-in luggage.
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