Passengers on domestic flights leaving OR Tambo International Airport will be faced with stricter regulations on hand luggage from Wednesday, the Airports Company of SA said.

Economy class passengers would be restricted to one bag weighing no more than 7kg and one laptop. Business class passengers would be allowed two bags, not exceeding 7kg each, and a laptop, spokesperson Solomon Makgale said on in a statement on Tuesday.

The bag may not be larger than 56cm by 36cm by 23cm.

The restrictions would be implemented at Cape Town and Durban international airports from 6 February. They were part of Acsa's preparations for the 2010 Soccer World Cup and intended to reduce delays.

"With passengers now being able to check-in at home or though the self-service kiosks, we have seen a huge increase in hand luggage. In many instances the hand luggage cannot fit into the cabin, meaning it has to be manually loaded into the hold of the aircraft, resulting in flight delays."

Airports could not afford delays, especially during the World Cup. Acsa expected 450 000 more passengers to arrive and depart from South African airports during the soccer tournament, over and above normal traffic. Last year 33 million passengers went through the country's airports, of which 23 million were on domestic flights.

Makgale told Sapa the restrictions would be eased in and passengers would not be forced to leave anything behind when they arrive with more than the allowed hand luggage at OR Tambo on Wednesday.

"There will be notices up to sensitise passengers and they will be asked at check-in how many bags they have. They will be able to then check in their hand luggage. We will not chase them away."

He said the restrictions weren't new, but were merely going to be enforced more rigorously.

Acsa intended to review the process in three weeks and decide on whether or not to extend it to international flights.

Sapa

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