New Guidelines Regarding Hand Luggage on Flights Departing the European Union

Airport Authorities in China have published new regulations forbidding the conveyance of fluids, liqueurs, alcohol, gels, creams and the like in hand luggage carried on board – as of May 1, 2007.

1. On international flights departing all airports in China it is permitted to carry a bottle containing up to 100 ml. Bottles containing larger amounts of fluids must be sent in baggage that is stored in the hold of the aircraft.
2. The bottle should be stored in a transparent bag of a capacity not exceeding one liter. Every passenger is entitled to one bag (the bags will be distributed for free to passengers at the airport).
3. Passengers arriving from other countries and are in transit, awaiting flights to other countries, may carry on board purchases made at duty free shops at the airport. Be sure to keep the duty free purchase receipts to present to security agents, in order to take advantage of this option.
4. Medications, baby food and special diet food may be taken on board.
5. The above regulations do not apply to internal flights in China, on which it is permitted to carry up to one liter of fluids. Alcohol should be sent in luggage stored in the hold of the aircraft.

Hong Kong Airport
As of March 21, 2007, Hong Kong joins the destinations forbidding the conveyance of certain items such as fluids, creams and the like, of specific dimensions, in hand luggage when departing Hong Kong, as in EU countries and the United States.

The following items may not be carried in hand luggage,
The above also applies to passengers with continuation flights, meaning passengers from Ben-Gurion Airport to Hong Kong, continuing on flights to other destinations, who have purchased duty free products in duty free shops or on the plane during the flight that are prohibited for carriage in hand luggage. These products will be confiscated by the local security authorities.

The following conditions apply:

As of November 6, 2006 , new regulations regarding hand luggage on all flights departing from or passing through the states of the European Union will go into effect. In addition, from Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and England it is permissible to include in the hand luggage liquids, ointments, gels and aerosols (including fluid cosmetic products such as liquid lipsticks, creams, toothpastes, shaving cream, etc.).

The following conditions apply:

1. The contents of each item should not exceed 100 ml.
2. All items must be compactly packed into a transparent re-sealable plastic bag.
3. The total contents in the bag should not exceed 1 liter in volume.
4. Every passenger is entitled to carry only one such bag in his/her hand luggage.
5. Medications and special food (such as baby food) that must be used during the flight may be taken on board without packing them in a plastic bag. These items must be presented separately at the security check.
6. Duty free items that do not conform to these conditions (such as bottles of alcoholic beverages) may not be taken on board the plane.

It is permissible to carry on to the plane duty free items that were purchased at the airports of countries that are in the European Union. These products must be in a sealed bag and passengers must present a properly dated receipt from the place where it was purchased.

Products that do not meet the requirements as well as products purchased at duty free shops of airports not in the European Union will be confiscated.Please note that only the aforementioned products must be stored in a plastic bag. All other items that passengers wish to take with them can be packed into hand luggage in the usual manner.

The bag may be placed in the hand luggage and taken out at the security check at airports in Europe.


To view the regulations pertaining to hand luggage on flights to and from the USA, click here.

To view the regulations pertaining to hand luggage on flights departing from Mumbai,
click here.

To view regulations pertaining to baggage on flights departing from China, click here.