CAA introduces new travel rules

BY INNOCENT GAHIGANA The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has adopted aviation rules that are applicable in a number of Western airports. The new rules, which were issued by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), include requirement for flight passengers not to pack all liquids including water, gels, pastes and aerosols, in hand luggage. But while the ICAO rules suggest the use of transparent polythene bags, Rwanda banned polythene bags. The new rules, which were devised as a security measure against terrorism, came into force at Rwanda’s airports this month, according to CAA Director General, Joshua Mbaraga. “Yes, we have introduced new airport rules as issued by ICAO,” he said on recently. The rules obliges passengers who wish to carry the aforementioned liquids in their hand luggage to put them in re-sealable transparent containers of certain dimensions or polythene bags, capable of packing materials of not more than one litre. The airport boss assured the public that they are set to execute the new rules without compromising the ban on polythene bags. The head of police at Kigali International Airport, Superintendent of Police Egide Ruzigamanzi, said the liquids are screened in their own transparent packages, and then passengers can place them back in their hand luggage after the screening. He however said that some items are exempted from the requirement, notably medication (carrying clear inscriptions) and baby foods. He called for cooperation from passengers.

National

CAA introduces new travel rules