Clear bags and 100ml see-through bags might soon disappear from security checkpoints. A couple of years ago, the government told airports to upgrade their screening equipment by June 2024. This change would allow travellers to carry up to two litres of liquids in hand luggage. However, this is now expected to be delayed at most UK airports.
Matthew Hall, Managing Director for the airport transfers app, hoppa, shares how to avoid losing your expensive toiletries or suncream when going through airport security this year, and how to avoid delays. Once fully in place, the new rules will make it easier for passengers to bring larger devices, toiletries and gifts through the security control. But for now, you need to check which rules apply at your departure and destination airports.
If you’re catching a connecting flight or coming back to an airport still using the 100ml rule, remember your items could be taken off you. For now, it’s best to still follow the 100ml rule and always double-check with your airline or airport.
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Young adult Caucasian male with a long beard standing next in line to scan his luggage through a x-ray machine at the airport.(Image: Getty)
Travel platform Hoppa has gathered all the latest updates from UK airports regarding liquid rules in one place, so your travel doesn’t get held up over the next few weeks.
Updates about liquids in hand luggage from main UK airports:
Delayed
London Heathrow: The airport told the Civil Aviation Authority that it doesn’t think the new scanners will work until 2025. So, if you’re flying the friendly skies via here, keep liquids in hand luggage under the 100ml limit for trouble-free check-in.
London Gatwick: The folks at this airport reckon they’d have made “significant progress” by June this year, but also can’t say the “major logistical operation” will be completed before 2025. If you’re taking off from here, stick to the current liquid rules and keep yourself out of hassle.
London Stansted, Manchester and East Midlands: While these places already have the new scanners in some of their security lanes, they expect the whole project to finish in 2025.
London City Airport is one of the first in the UK to fully use the new scanners. Now, passengers can leave liquids up to two litres and electronic devices inside their hand luggage.
London City Airport is one of the first in the UK to fully use the new scanners(Image: Chalabala/Getty)
Teesside Airport’s security area has recently been redeveloped. This included the early introduction of new bag scanners that allow passengers to carry up to two litres per liquid item.
Leeds Bradford Airport is undergoing a £100 million regeneration. The airport’s security upgrades are expected to be fully operational by February 2024.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport previously aimed to install the new scanners in January 2024. However, the airport’s CEO now says this will happen in May or June this year.
Birmingham Airport is nearing completion of a new +£60m security hall project. It should have the new facilities ready by June.
Bristol Airport said that the new scanners should be working by the June deadline.
Other major airports like Newcastle, Edinburgh, and Glasgow are also upgrading their security areas to meet the new requirements. Until specified otherwise, assume that the 100ml rule is still in place.
Overseas airports already using the new technology include:
Ireland’s Donegal and Shannon airports scrapped the 100ml liquid limit in 2022, with Dublin and Cork expected to do the same this year.
The 100ml container rule was imposed back in 2006(Image: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)
In Rome, Italy, new hand luggage screening equipment at Terminal 1 and most of Terminal 3 in Leonardo da Vinci airport allows passengers to carry any amount of liquid, aerosols, and gels.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the Netherlands has had new CT scanners for a while now. Although passengers are still advised to pack bottles or containers of up to 100ml separately, items exceeding this are allowed if approved by the CT scan and security staff.
At Eindhoven Airport, it’s no longer necessary to remove liquids from your hand luggage, and amounts larger than 100ml are permitted.
The new security control in Terminal 5 at Arlanda airport in Stockholm, Sweden, allows passengers to leave electronics and put more liquids in their bags during X-ray screening.
Since June last year, all security control lanes at Helsinki Airport in Finland have been equipped with new scanners, increasing the liquid limit carried in hand baggage to two litres per passenger.
USA (LAX and JFK) – Big airports like Los Angeles’ LAX and New York’s JFK have had CT scanners for a few years. But, the liquid limit is still in place while these scanners are being introduced at smaller airports as well.
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