-We'll be asking people to take their laptop computer out of its carry-case and remove the battery, if practical," a Qantas spokesperson told ZDNet Australia. The three items will then be screened separately.
Whilst today's move is not a government requirement, the process is an extension of what happens internationally in the domestic scene, the spokesperson stressed. It is an Australian government requirement that laptops are screened separately before being taken on international flights.
-It's been happening at Australian international terminals for some time now," the spokesperson said. -It's something we consider prudent to introduce domestically upon some advice received from government," she added.
When asked to define when it wouldn't be practical for laptop batteries to be removed, the spokesperson said -if it's going to need a lot of tools" or if -people don't know how to do it".
-There's no requirement for batteries to be removed in all blanket cases," she said, adding that if it's going to cause a hold-up or a problem the laptop may only be required to be removed from its carry-case. -It's something that will be decided at the screening point," the spokesperson said.
When asked if Qantas was anticipating the process to hold passengers up at the check-in point, the spokesperson said: -No, not terribly."
