Items not allowed at secure areas of an airport

Items prohibited through the screening point and in sterile/secured areas of an airport and in the aircraft cabin.

Note: Some of the prohibited items may be allowed in checked baggage under certain conditions / regulations.


Passengers are not permitted to carry the following items into a security restricted area or the cabin of the aircraft:

• Ammunition.
• Blasting caps.
• Detonators and fuses.
• Explosives and explosive devices.
• Replica or imitation explosive material or devices.
• Grenades.
• Gas and gas containers (such as butane, propane, acetylene, oxygen).
• Fireworks, flares and other pyrotechnics (including party poppers and toy caps).
• Non-safety matches.
• Smoke generating canisters or cartridges.
• Flammable liquid fuel such as petrol / gasoline, diesel, lighter fluid, alcohol, ethanol.
• Aerosol spray paint.
• Turpentine and paint thinner.
• Alcoholic beverages exceeding 70% by volume.
Items prohibited through the screening point and in sterile/secured areas of an airport and in the aircraft cabin.

Note: Some of the prohibited items may be allowed in checked baggage under certain conditions / regulations.


Passengers are not permitted to carry the following items into a security restricted area or the cabin of the aircraft:

• Pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, pellet guns, etc.
• Replica and imitation firearms.
• Components of firearms (excluding telescopic sighting devices & sights).
• Toy guns of all types.
• Crossbows.
• Catapults.
• Harpoon and spear guns.
• Stun or shocking devices such as cattle prods, ballistic conducted energy weapons, etc.
• Lighters shaped like firearms.
Items prohibited through the screening point and in sterile/secured areas of an airport and in the aircraft cabin.

Note: Some of the prohibited items may be allowed in checked baggage under certain conditions / regulations.


Passengers are not permitted to carry the following items into a security restricted area or the cabin of the aircraft:

• Acids and alkalis such as wet batteries that may spill.
• Corrosive or bleaching substances such as mercury, chlorine, etc.
• Disabling or incapacitating sprays such as mace, pepper, tear gas.
• Radioactive material such as medicinal or commercial isotopes.
• Poisons.
• Infectious or hazardous  biological material such as infected blood, bacteria and viruses.
• Material capable of spontaneous ignition or combustion.
• Fire extinguishers.
• E Cigarettes.

What not to carry as cabin baggage on an Etihad flight

The following articles cannot be carried into the aircraft cabin but may be allowed as checked baggage:
Pointed weapons and sharp objects

Pointed weapons and sharp objects

• Axes and hatchets
• Arrows and darts
• Harpoons and spears
• Ice axes and ice picks
• Ice skates
• Lockable or flick knives with blades of any length
• Knives
• Meat cleavers
• Machetes
• Open razors and blades (excluding safety or disposable razors with blades enclosed in cartridge)
• Sabres, swords and swordsticks
• Scalpels
• Scissors with blades more than 6cm in length
• Ski and walking / hiking poles
• Throwing stars
• Tools that have the potential to be used as a pointed or edged weapon such as drills, drill bits, box cutters, utility knives, saws, screwdrivers, crowbars, hammers, pliers, wrenches, spanners, blow torches. 
Blunt instruments

Blunt instruments

• Baseball and softball bats.
• Clubs or batons.
• Cricket bats.
• Golf clubs.
• Hockey sticks.
• Lacrosse sticks.
• Kayak and canoe paddles.
• Skateboards.
• Billiards, snooker and pool cues.
• Fishing rods.
• Martial arts equipment such as knuckle dusters, clubs, coshes, rice flails, nun chucks, kabatons, kubasaunts. 

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Please note that articles may not necessarily be treated in the same manner by other airlines or at certain airports. We accept no responsibility if certain airports/airlines do not allow carriage of one or more of these articles.

Hints and tips

Always lock your checked baggage. Keep the keys handy in case airport security personnel need to go through your bags.

Never leave your baggage unattended and never carry a package or bag for another person. If you need to carry medication, keep them in your hand luggage. Keep medicines in their original packets or containers and carry your prescription with you.

Report any missing, delayed or damaged items before you leave the airport.

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Need some help with packing? Here are a few hints to help you pack with panache:


• Travel light. You’ll enjoy your journey more if you have fewer bags to keep track of – and lighter bags to carry around.
• Remove old airline tags from your bags as these may cause confusion. Label your baggage with your name and contact details for both ends of your journey. Place a copy of this information inside your bags as well — should your luggage get misplaced, this information will assist us in tracing it faster.
• If you think you will have trouble identifying your baggage on the carousel, mark your baggage with a colourful tag or a bright label that will help you spot your bags easily.

Import restrictions into countries

Malé - Liquor and pork products are restricted items to be imported into Maldives unless a prior permit is obtained from the relevant authorities.