Maldives tightens 100ml liquid rule on domestic flights

Liquids can be carried in handbags on domestic flights in containers of not more than 100 millilitres, effective from Sunday, the Directorate of Aviation Security Administration (DASA) has said.

As stipulated in the 5th edition of the National Civil Aviation Security Programme, there is no distinction between the measurements of prohibited items to be carried between foreign and domestic aircraft departing from domestic civil airports.

According to a circular issued by the defence ministry on May 16, Articles 2.4 and 2.5 of Appendix IV of the 5th Edition of the National Civil Aviation Security Programme will come into force from Sunday.

Passengers can now carry liquids in their handbag:

• The container of liquids should not exceed 100 ml
• A passenger can carry a maximum of 10 containers of 100 ml
• Passengers can take as much baby liquid food and medical medicine as they need

A ministry circular directed airport operators to share this information before issuing tickets to passengers for traveling on domestic flights, make announcements in this regard at airports and put up signage for passengers to see.

In addition, the aviation command will enforce this without discrimination against any passenger, the circular said.

The new rule enforcement comes after several Southeast Asian and European airports began scrapping some security rules on liquids and items such as laptops in airport hand luggage in 2024.

Government has set a deadline of June 2024 for most UK airports to install new high-tech 3D scanners, that show more detailed images of baggage.

The changes will see the 100ml liquid rule increased to two litres and mean passengers won’t need to remove electrical items from bags at security.