To ensure the security of travelers it is important that all passengers and carry-on bags are screened at the security check-point. Tanzania Airports Authority recognizes that some passengers will have special needs when travelling through our airports. Training provided to security screening officers is designed to ensure everyone is treated fairly and with respect when going through security screening at the airport.

This section provides information to help passengers with special needs get through security checks as easily and as smoothly as possible.

Travelling with a medical condition or physically challenged

Some travelers who are physically challenged or medical condition may have specific needs and requirements when flying out our airports. Medical items that you may need during your flight, such as prescription medicines, are allowed in your carry-on bags. Following the simple steps below will help you get through security screening point quickly.

 Packing your carry-on bags

1. Some medical items that take a liquid, aerosol or gel form are exempt from the restrictions on liquids, aerosols and gels and can be packed in your carry-on bags. These include prescription medicine and prescribed medical devices. Information on what you cannot take on board is also available.
2. Reasonable quantities of non-prescription medicines are allowed onboard. Security screening officers have the final say on what a reasonable quantity is.
3. Mobility aids such as walking sticks and crutches can be taken on board, but are subject to the screening process.
4. Hypodermic needles can also be packed in your carry-on bags but you must have proof that they are medically necessary.

Going through security checks

1. Present any liquid, aerosol or gel medications, along with any supporting documentation, to security screening officers at the screening point.
2. Walking aids and wheelchairs must be screened at the security check-point. These aids may need to undergo an X-ray or explosive trace detection test.
3. Wheelchair users can choose to have a physical search rather than go through the metal detection equipment. This search can also be conducted in private on request.
4. Inform the security screening officer if you have any medical conditions, such as a pacemaker, that might be affected by security screening.
5. Inform the security screening officer if you have an implanted metal device, or any other device that may affect the screening equipment.

Travelers with specific cultural or religious requirements

Everyone, regardless of their religious or cultural background, has to be screened at the screening points at our airports. The Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA) understands that some cultures incorporate elements of clothing into their religious observance. To respect these requirements, TAA provides the option for individuals to be screened in a private room, if requested.

Packing your carry-on bags

1. Check with your airline before you travel regarding what items you cannot take onboard. Some religious items could be considered a prohibited item or weapon under our law.
2. If you are carrying a prohibited item or weapon in your carry-on baggage or on your person, security screening staff may be able to make arrangements for you to pack this item in your checked baggage, however this may not always be possible.

Travelers who are hearing- or vision-impaired

Travelers who are hearing- or vision-impaired may have specific needs and requirements when flying out of our airports. Security screening officers may use hand signals to gain the attention of a passenger who is hearing-impaired. Screening officers are trained to talk to the hearing-impaired passenger, and not to their escort. It is important for the hearing-impaired passenger to understand what they need to do to assist with the security screening process.

Going through security checks

1. Passengers who are vision-impaired may prefer to undergo a physical search rather than go through the metal detection equipment. The passenger can request that they stand or sit for the physical search, and have the option for the screening to take place in private, if they wish.
2. Where it is necessary for security screening officers to search the belongings of a person who is vision-impaired, they are trained to replace the items in their original locations so they can easily be found again.
3. Hearing aids are considered to be part of the person who is wearing them, and as such, the wearer will not be asked to remove their hearing aid prior to being screened.

Travelling with children

Travelling with children, especially young children, puts special demands on the adults responsible for their wellbeing. Following the simple steps below will help make your journey as safe and comfortable as possible.

Packing your bags

Remember the restrictions on travelling with liquids, aerosols and gels in our airports. However, you are allowed to take baby products onboard that may be needed during the course of your flight. This could include medicines, milk or food for your child.

Pushchairs and prams must be screened before you can board the plane with them, but many airlines do not allow these items in the cabin due to space and stowage constraints. Check with your airline for more information.

Going through security checks

Babies and toddlers must be carried through the passenger screening checks by a responsible adult. If your child is able to walk by themselves, they should walk through the metal detector on their own.

Present any baby products that you wish to take onboard to security screening officers before going through security checks. Security screening officers have the final say on what a reasonable amount of baby products is.

Travelling with a laptop / electronics devices

You should take your laptop out of its bag and place it in the tray provided at the airport screening point. Removing your laptop from its bag will ensure screening officers have an unobstructed view as it moves through the screening equipment.

Remember:

1. Laptops are easier to get out of the bag and into the screening point tray if they are not covered by papers, mobile phones and other objects.
2. Neatly-packed bags are less likely to need to be re-screened.

Travelling with sports equipment

Some sporting equipment is prohibited from your carry-on bags because there is a risk it could injure someone. These items may be packed in your checked baggage. Any sharp objects should be securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and security screening officers.

You are not allowed to carry the following sporting items in your carry-on baggage:

1. Baseball, softball, and cricket bats or similar objects;
2. Hockey and lacrosse sticks or similar objects;
3. Racquets used in squash, tennis, badminton or other sports;
4. Billiard, pool or snooker cues;
5. Ski poles;
6. Golf clubs;
7. Ice skates; or
8. Rock climbing equipment such as pitons, hooks, hammers and bolts.

Each airline operates under its own Conditions of Carriage, which may indicate what you cannot take onboard or pack in your checked baggage. You should check with your airline if you are unsure whether you can take a particular item onboard or pack it in your baggage.

See list of dangerous goods that are not permitted onboard an aircraft.

Some items were never intended to be taken onboard an aircraft and others represent a security risk. That is why there are restrictions on what you can pack in your carry-on baggage. These restrictions are in place to help you and others have a safe journey when travelling in our airports.

1. prohibited items
2. liquids, aerosols and gels
3. dangerous goods

We recommend you familiarize yourself with these restrictions before you travel, to help you get through the security checks at the airport as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Liquid explosives still present a threat to aviation. There are restrictions on the quantity of liquids, aerosols and gels you can take onboard in your carry-on baggage.

Certain items, such as prescription medicines and baby products, are exempt from the liquids, aerosols and gels restrictions.

Some items are prohibited from being taken onboard because they present a security risk and have the potential to harm other passengers and crew. Dangerous goods are not allowed anywhere on the aircraft, because they may be explosive, flammable, magnetic, caustic and generally too dangerous to be taken on the aircraft.

Each airline also operates under its own Conditions of Carriage which may indicate what you cannot take onboard or pack in your checked baggage. You should contact your airline if you are unsure whether you can take a particular item onboard or pack in it your baggage.

To protect you from the threat of liquid explosives, there are rules for taking liquids, aerosols and gels on flights in and out of our airports. These rules also apply to passengers arriving on international and domestic flights who are transiting through our airports

1. The restrictions limit the quantity of liquids; aerosols and gels passengers may take onboard the aircraft with them.
2. The restrictions apply to products carried in the cabin of the aircraft by passengers. They do not apply to checked baggage carried in the hold of the aircraft. However, restrictions on dangerous goods still apply.
3. Certain exemptions apply for medicines, medical products, medical devices, and baby products that you may need during the flight. Details of these exemptions are covered in the exemptions part of this site.

Passengers travelling in our airports need to be aware of the quantity limits for liquids, aerosols and gels that can be taken through a security screening point at the airport.

1. Liquid, aerosol or gel products must be in containers of 100 milliliters or less (broadly equivalent to 100 grams or less).
2. The containers must be carried in one transparent, resealable plastic bag, like the one in the image below.
3. The four sides of the bag's sealed area must add up to no more than 80 centimeters (e.g. 20x20 cm or 15x25 cm).
4. The plastic bag must be the type that can be sealed and resealed with a sealing mechanism, like a sandwich bag or freezer bag.
5. Only one bag is allowed for each passenger, with exceptions for careers who may carry the bag/s of the people in their care, including children.
6. All containers must fit comfortably into the plastic bag and the bag must be sealed

Remember:

Containers larger than 100 milliliters, even if only partially-filled, will not be allowed through the security screening point

Baggage screening is an important measure to improve your security when flying to and from our airports. If you refuse to allow the security screening officer to screen your carry-on bags you will not be permitted to pass through the security point or to board the aircraft.

Your carry-on bags may be screened in a number of ways, including:

1. X-ray examination;
2. Testing for chemical residues using Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) equipment;
3. Physical search.

There are a number of steps that you can take to make the screening process quicker and easier. Make sure that mobile phones, keys, coins, and metallic decorative items are either placed in your checked baggage or in the small trays provided at the screening point. You should also remove your laptop computer from its case and place it in one of the trays provided at the screening point.

You should also have the resealable plastic bag with your liquid, aerosol and gel products ready for inspection, as well as any medicines or medical products in liquid, aerosol or gel form.

Please remember that certain items are not permitted onboard. You will need to surrender these before you pass through the security screening point. Check with your airline beforehand to find out what you can't take onboard and either leave it at home or pack it in your checked baggage, if permitted.

If you have a non-standard camera or film, please discuss how these can be examined with the officers at the security screening point. You should also let the security screening officer know if you have any medically necessary syringes in your carry-on baggage.