U.K. To Ease Liquid Carry-On Flight Rules

A 3-month-old ban that prevented passengers from carrying liquids aboard flights originating at British airports will be relaxed next week, the government said Thursday.

Beginning Monday, passengers will be allowed to carry small bottles of toiletries as long as they are contained in a clear, resealable, plastic bag, the Department for Transport said.

The baggage rules had been tightened at British airports such at Heathrow and Gatwick beginning Aug. 10, when an alleged plot to blow up planes was thwarted.

The restrictions have since been eased gradually, but the ban on liquids had remained, although passengers leaving British airports for non-U.S. destinations had been allowed to take items such as toothpaste on board, as long as they were bought after passing through security at airports.

Under the new rules being introduced across the European Union next week, passengers will be allowed to carry small quantities of liquids within separate containers.

The rules restrict each individual item to about 3 ounces, and containers must be brought to the airport in a single, transparent, resealable plastic bag no more than a quart in capacity.

Existing rules covering items such as medicines, baby foods and musical instruments will remain in place.

"The security measures introduced at U.K. airports in August were in response to a very real and serious threat. We have always said that we would keep these measures under review, and in September we introduced changes which increased the permitted size of cabin baggage that passengers could take on board," the Department of Transport said in a statement.

Despite the latest relaxation, security will remain rigorous, it said.