Air India bans passengers from carrying this substance on flights

So far, Air India is the sole India-based airline running direct non-stop flights from Mumbai and Delhi to different cities of the US including New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington DC. On the other hand, US airliner, United Airlines is the only one running direct flights between the USA and Delhi and Mumbai.

Air India told its passengers through a directive that "carriage of any powder or powder-like substance in hand or carry-on baggage which is 350 ml or larger is prohibited." Image source: Reuters

If you are planning to travel to the United States by an Air India flight, you need to be careful especially about taking along “powder-like substances” including ground coffee, sugar and cosmetics in a cabin bag - hand baggage or carry-on baggage. Why? Because Air India will not allow you to carry these substances on-board. The restriction has been imposed on flyers in the wake of the US Department of Homeland Security's directive in 31 May 2018, taking into account the "evolving techniques" of terrorists, said a Times of India report.

So far, Air India is the sole India-based airline running direct non-stop flights from Mumbai and Delhi to different cities of the US including New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington DC. On the other hand, US airliner, United Airlines is the only one running direct flights between the USA and Delhi and Mumbai.

According to an airline spokesperson, the airline has begun the process of executing the new directives on its flights. Accordingly, Air India told its passengers through a directive that "carriage of any powder or powder-like substance in hand or carry-on baggage which is 350 ml or larger is prohibited." Besides, substances like spices, sugar, flour, ground coffee and cosmetics will also not be allowed, the report said.

However, medically-prescribed powder-like substances like baby formula and cremated remains of dead bodies (350 ml) etc. may be carried in the cabin baggage of the airplane, the guidelines posted on Air India’s webpage stated.

According to the update, "Such powders if carried in any sealed containers will be inspected for signs of alteration or tampering to the packaging and if carried in containers that are unsealed or having signs of alteration or tampering will be inspected to ensure that the contents are consistent with the container/packaging."

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Notably, India-based flyers boarding the airline from UAE and other Gulf nations will also have to comply with the US' new norms. Emirates Airlines in its new notification issued to passengers on its webpage reportedly said that powder-like materials in containers measuring equal to or above 350 gm/ml will be checked-in, and won’t be permitted in carry-on or cabin luggage.

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