The European law-makers were compelled to standardize the severe embarking procedures regarding liquid and soft items, already enforced three months ago for the flights to and from United Kingdom and the USA. In these countries, at the top of the peak-season in mid August, obscure dangers were announced, due to potential bomb-maker terrorists boarding airliners with chemical products. The announce prompted tight security measures and an immediate and unprecedented disruption of the air transportation system. The chaos in the airports around the world affected millions of unaware passengers, already required to prepare hand baggage without “dangerous weapons” such as nail cutters and matches. The delay of three months to implement the new airport rules evidences a reluctant or at least less panic-oriented approach of the European authorities to the matter. The anti-bottle procedures, which are causing further delays and extra costs, appear to be essentially aimed to maintain high level of terrorism-alarm in a large portion of the population. It’s easy to understand that the same precautions are not applicable to other forms of transportation such as bus, train, metropolitan train and ships, all of them possible targets of the liquid menace.
In the picture: McDonnell Douglas MD-82 I-DACN, first aircraft of Alitalia painted with the new livery, starts flight AZ1418 Turin-Rome, on November 9, 2006. (Aeromedia)
(Aeromedia, November 2006)
