Shanghai's Hongqiao International Airport will open four extra security inspection channels tomorrow to deal with an expected increase in travelers on the first day of the May Day holiday while a rule limiting economy and business-class air passengers to only one carry-on bag will also take effect.

The added channels are expected to help smooth the inspection process, which now takes much longer after several new rules were issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China in the past few months to ensure air security ahead of the Beijing Olympics in August.

The latest rule, which is due to take effect tomorrow across the country, requires economy and business-class air passengers to take only one carry-on bag and that it is thoroughly checked during security inspections.

The single item of luggage should be no larger than 20x40x55 centimeters in size and no heavier than five kilograms, according to the top Chinese air authority.

An example of what is suitable has been set up at the entrance of security check points to make it clear to passengers whether their bags can be taken aboard.

Meanwhile, air staff at both Pudong and Hongqiao airports also required airlines to step up efforts to notify travelers about all the recent security rules, including bans on liquids, gel and matches from being taken onto planes.

Chinese airports enforced rules that prohibit the carrying of liquid goods on board any domestic flight in the middle of March. Matches and lighters were added to the list of forbidden goods on passenger planes early this month.

The moves have led to even further delays at overtaxed check-in counters and bottlenecks have since been the norm at security checkpoints.

At present, a passenger may take up to one hour to pass security checks at Hongqiao Airport during rush hours.

Shanghai airport authorities said in previous reports that some passengers had missed flights because of delays.

However, the delays may be partly blamed on uncooperative passengers who refused to discard forbidden goods, the authorities said.

Some travelers, who were angry over the delays, have cursed or even physically attacked security officers.

Hongqiao airport has hired 120 extra staff early this month to help speed up security checks at the airport while it also set up eight new spots for open-luggage checks.

(Shanghai Daily April 30, 2008)