Gatwick lifts one carry-on restriction

Thursday 27 March 2008

Airline & Airport Updates

Passengers from Gatwick Airport will now be allowed to carry more than one item of hand baggage on flights from the hub, as restrictions to a single item were finally lifted at the south London airport.

While Gatwick will still conform to the Department for Transport's (DfT) cabin baggage restrictions, prohibiting items larger than 56cm tall, 45cm wide and 25cm deep, the hub now comes into line with other BAA airports where restrictions were lifted in January.

Despite the airport now permitting a second carry-on bag, not all Gatwick passengers will be able to benefit due to certain airlines imposing their own security and baggage policies at Gatwick and other airports.

EasyJet – Gatwick's biggest carrier – imposes its own one hand luggage rule and its passengers will see no change at Gatwick, while fellow budget carriers Ryanair and Monarch will also not be taking advantage of the new airport allowances.

Gatwick's delay in having baggage restrictions lifted was due to ongoing x-ray technology work on its central search areas, but transfer passengers passing through the hub were already granted permission for more than one bag in February.

Airport restrictions on baggage are often outdone by the conditions airlines themselves impose at all of their bases: another low cost carrier Flybe allows only one 50x35x23 cm carry-on, constituting a stricter standard than the DfT.