From disbelief to nonchalance, the TSA's decision to allow small knives on board drew a mixed response from passengers in Washington D.C.'s Ronald Reagan National Airport on Tuesday.
The TSA said effective from April 25th, it would allow small knives with blades that are 2.36 inches or less in length and less than 1/2 inch wide. Other items that will be allowed on board again as part of a passenger's carry-on luggage include billiard cues, ski poles, hockey sticks and lacrosse sticks.
Items that had been prohibited like razors, box cutters or knives with a fixed blade are still not allowed on board.
The TSA said the decision was made to bring U.S. regulations more in line with International Civil Aviation Organization standards and would also help provide a better experience for travellers.
Some travellers said they were comfortable with knives being carried on board as long as they are safely tucked away.
After the September 11, 2001 hijacked airliner attacks, the U.S. government imposed a strict set of guidelines for what could be carried on board an aircraft - some of which differed from what other countries allowed passengers to carry on aeroplanes.
