Metal Cutlery Returns to the Sky...> Apr 4, 8:22 AM (ET)>

LONDON (Reuters) - Passengers flying from British airports will be able to > dine with metal cutlery again when anti-terrorism rules banning sharp > objects on board are relaxed later this month.> The British government banned all such objects on airplanes after Islamic > radicals used box-cutters to hijack planes in the September 11, 2001 > attacks.> Now improved in-flight and airport security means the rules can be > relaxed, transport chiefs say.> "We've revised the list of objects you can bring on board. Cockpit doors > have been strengthened and are locked at all times and airport security > has improved," said a spokesman for Britain's transport department.> Security at Britain's three busiest airports -- Heathrow, Gatwick and > Stansted -- confiscated 15,000 sharp objects from passengers in the first > 12 months of the ban, said BAA, the UK's main airport operator.> But from April 25, passengers flying from British airports will be able to > carry on board knitting needles and scissors, with blades shorter than 3 > cm. Other items like penknives remain banned.> British Airways welcomed the move, saying improved cabin security made the > ban unnecessary and that rescinding it would increase passenger comfort.> "We have been urging the government to look at these rules again for some > time," said a spokeswoman.>

So now terrorists will be able to slit the throat of every passenger on> board, but won't be able to take over the cockpit. FAN TASTIC!