Helsinki Airport to return confiscated spirits

Airport operator Finavia has partnered with start-up Cotio to allow passengers to reclaim valuable items confiscated at Helsinki Airport security – the “first” initiative of its kind.

Helsinki Airport is piloting a system which will allow passengers to reclaim items confiscated at security – including spirits

If a passenger has a valuable item confiscated – such as a bottle of spirits purchased in travel retail prior to a connecting flight – they will be given a “receipt” with a code that matches the seized item. The passenger will then be able to log on to Cotio’s website and enter the code to arrange delivery.

A service fee will be charged, with the amount dependent on what the item is and the delivery method chosen.

As many as 400,000 prohibited items are confiscated during security control at Helsinki Airport each year. Finavia hopes the new scheme will enable passengers to reclaim many of the items in a “sensible, cost-effective manner”.

“The most commonly confiscated hand baggage items include water bottles and hygiene product and cosmetics containers larger than 100ml, which may not be taken into the cabin due to liquid-related restrictions,” explained Heikki Koski , vice president at Finavia, Helsinki Airport.

“Sharp items and flammable substances are also classified as dangerous. Items confiscated from hand baggage also include valuables, such as rare lighters, expensive spirits or objects which have sentimental value.”

Kimmo Collander, Cotio CEO and inventor of the concept, added: “The idea of a new online service came about when I had to hand over my Swiss Army knife, which I had forgotten in my hand baggage, to a security officer. I would have paid to have it delivered to me, but that kind of service was not available.”

The pilot scheme will run until the end of 2016, and is intended for passengers carrying expensive or sentimental items in their hand baggage that may not be carried on board for security reasons.

The service is optional, and passengers may still return to check their baggage or hand the item back to a friend. In Finland, a system is already in place where passengers can retrieve items removed from their checked baggage.

Last year a Chinese passenger downed an entire bottle of Cognac rather than let it go to waste when security staff at Beijing Capital International Airport told her she could not carry it in her hand luggage.