http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1042602
Air-India, Jet plan 'anti-terror' cutlery

AFP
Wednesday, July 19, 2006  19:40 IST

 
LONDON: A British company on Wednesday launched a specially-designed stainless steel "anti-terror" cutlery range for use on board aircraft.
 
Arthur Price cutlery manufacturers and retailers claimed to be the first firm to design such a set, targeted for use by Business Class customers who expect better than plastic cutlery.
 
The knives, forks and spoons have been created to exact specifications based on new British Department for Transport guidelines amid heightened security fears.
 
The knives have a rounded rather than a sharp end and measure no longer than 2.36 inches, while the forks have prongs no longer than three centimetres.
 
Air-India and Jet Airways have placed orders and Emirates and the British Airports Authority are considering the products, said Simon Price from the family company.
 
"Since the new guidelines from the Department of Transport have come in, all airlines have been forced to use plastic cutlery, which doesn't fit very well with a premium offering such as first or business class," he said.
 
"If you've paid that much for a flight, you don't expect to be eating with plastic knives and forks.
 
"By designing the first-ever set of stainless steel cutlery to meet the new specifications, we're providing airlines with a solution to this problem.
 
"Airlines can now offer their customers the premium standard of dining with real cutlery they would expect, whilst ensuring safety remains paramount."